Malaysia
Singapore
Philippines
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Singapore Exchange (SGX) plans to launch Bitcoin futures contracts in the second half of 2025, a move that further confirms the position of traditional exchanges in the crypto derivatives market.
This decision reflects a significant shift in the global financial industry, where traditional exchanges are increasingly seeking to include crypto-based instruments in their portfolios to meet the needs of a growing market.
Focus on Institutional and Professional Clients
SGX confirmed that trading in Bitcoin perpetual futures will be exclusive to institutional clients and professional investors who meet certain criteria.
According to a statement issued by SGX, retail customers will not be allowed to trade in these instruments. This step has been taken to maintain stability and reduce potential risks that can arise from the high volatility that commonly occurs in the crypto market.
“The company will strictly target institutional clients and professional investors, while retail customers are prohibited from trading these instruments,” an SGX spokesman explained in an email received by Bloomberg.
Connecting Traditional and Crypto Markets
The launch of Bitcoin futures is one way for SGX to bridge the gap between the established traditional financial markets and the freer crypto world. SGX aims to provide broader and more structured trading options for its users, especially for institutional investors who are increasingly looking for opportunities to participate in the digital asset market.
“SGX hopes to act as a bridge between regulated financial markets and the free crypto trading world. We believe that this offering will expand institutional market access to the world of digital assets,” said an SGX spokesperson.
This move also reflects a global trend in which traditional exchanges are starting to enter the crypto world by offering more structured and secure products, which will give professional investors more options in trading Bitcoin, one of the most popular digital assets today.
Approval from the Financial Authority
However, before this product can be launched to the market, SGX is still awaiting approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). If approved, the Bitcoin futures contract offered by SGX will be one of the more trusted products on the market, supported by the Aa2 credit rating given by Moody’s to SGX.
“The trust provided by Moody’s with our Aa2 rating will be an additional attraction for professional investors who want to trade in Bitcoin futures contracts,” said an SGX representative.
Similar Move in Japan: Osaka Dojima Exchange
Not only SGX, efforts to launch Bitcoin futures are also being made by the Osaka Dojima Exchange in Japan. In early March 2025, the Osaka Dojima Exchange announced that it was seeking approval from the Financial Services Agency (FSA) to start trading Bitcoin futures in yen denominations in fiscal year 2025.
If approved, this exchange could be one of the first traditional exchanges in the Asian region to offer Bitcoin futures contracts. This also shows that the Asian market, which was previously more conservative in terms of crypto regulation, is starting to open up to more structured digital asset trading.
Change in Conventional Exchanges’ Approach to Crypto
The move by SGX and Osaka Dojima Exchange signals a major shift in the conventional exchange’s approach to digital assets. Previously, many countries in Asia had strict regulations regarding cryptocurrency trading. However, with the increasing global demand for digital asset exposure, several exchanges have begun to adjust their policies to serve institutional investors who want to access the crypto market through safer and more regulated products.
In addition, the pro-crypto policy factors implemented by several countries, including a more crypto-friendly policy by the US government, also play a big role in encouraging the adoption of crypto derivative instruments such as Bitcoin futures. This policy has opened up greater opportunities for institutional investors to engage in the crypto market in a safer and more secure manner.
Increasing Market Access and Stimulating Crypto Adoption
With increasingly mature regulations and growing investor interest, the launch of Bitcoin futures by SGX and various other exchanges could be an important catalyst for wider adoption of crypto derivative instruments in the Asian region.
Many large investors now see crypto as an asset that cannot be ignored, and steps like these open up opportunities for more crypto-based products to thrive in traditional financial markets.
SGX and other exchanges hope that their move will introduce more alternatives for market participants, while strengthening the relationship between traditional markets and the growing digital world. As a result, we can expect more exchanges to introduce crypto-based products, creating a more mature, structured market that is accessible to all levels of investors.
As this ecosystem continues to develop, steps such as the launch of Bitcoin futures can help accelerate the adoption of crypto in the broader financial sector, creating a safer and more efficient market for investors around the world