Cryptocurrency Derivatives Series: Heads-Up on Bakkt’s Launch of Bitcoin Futures and Custody Services

Bakkt has long been perceived as a catalyst for bullish bitcoin price and its adoption on Wall Street given its regulated nature and physically settled BTC contracts. The ICE-backed start-up, Bakkt’s beta-testing for its much-anticipated Bitcoin futures contracts went through successfully in the recent past as per the announcements of Mr. Adam White, the COO of cryptocurrency platform Bakkt.

Bakkt has diligently initiated user acceptance testing for its bitcoin futures listed and traded at ICE Futures U.S. and cleared at ICE Clear US.

Bakkt’s collaboration with the ICE’s leading futures exchange and clearing infrastructure to bring physical delivery futures contracts to market participants in 30 countries.

The unveiling is all set to go in Q3, once custody solution is approved: Bakkt divulged that the launch of bitcoin Daily and Monthly Futures on September 23rd. In case this happens as scheduled, cautious and eager institutional players are most likely to be unfastened the belts and make an access into the crypto markets.

A slide deck obtained by the media outlet states that the New York-based company is still waiting on approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) to run Bakkt Warehouse, which would enable the company to function as a limited-purpose trust company and operate as a qualified custodian for the physical bitcoin underlying its bitcoin futures contracts.

The physically-settled bitcoin futures contracts will trade on ICE Futures U.S. and be cleared by ICE Clear U.S.

Bakkt intends to unveil two bitcoin futures contracts (subject to the regulatory approval of Bakkt Warehouse): 

• Bakkt ™ Bitcoin (USD) Daily Futures Contract
• Bakkt ™ Bitcoin (USD) Monthly Futures Contract.