trueDigital Holdings, an affiliate of online CFTC-regulated exchange for interest rate swaps trueEX, has announced its plans to launch a regulated derivatives marketplace for digital assets.

According to the official release, the initial contracts will be for bitcoin non-deliverable forwards (NDFs) settled in USD and will be listed under the "trueDigital" brand on the existing trueEX swap execution platform, pending review with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

In addition, trueDigital Holdings announced that it will enter into a partnership with blockchain startup ConsenSys to develop a benchmark rate for Ether and the infrastructure needed for the broad adoption of digital assets by the institutional community.

"Institutional investors and commercial partners are ready for a regulated and liquid marketplace to gain exposure to and hedge these increasingly important digital currencies and commodities, but the marketplace is sorely lacking the necessary foundation, infrastructure and platforms that institutional investors have come to expect in other important markets," said Sunil Hirani, founder of trueDigital Holdings.

trueDigital Holdings provides research and product development for derivatives to be listed on trueEX and also serves as its sales and marketing arm for the emerging marketplace for digital assets.