Aptos is taking another step toward deeper integration with U.S. capital markets.
Aptos Labs announced a partnership with Bitnomial to launch the first ever U.S. regulated APT futures, marking a milestone for the network’s institutional and retail strategy.
During an interview with TheStreet Roundtable, Solomon Tesfaye, chief business officer at Aptos Labs, said the new futures contract is about more than a single product launch.
This new contract will provide institutional as well as retail connectivity to the first regulated APT futures on their exchange, Tesfaye said.
Bridging Crypto and Traditional Finance
Tesfaye added that the goal is to further connect the Aptos ecosystem with traditional capital markets.
The focus of the product is U.S. based participation. Tesfaye believes there is significant demand from investors who want exposure to crypto assets through venues regulated by U.S. authorities.
We want to be able to tap into different pools of capital, he said, particularly those that require trading on CFTC regulated markets.
Accessibility was a key consideration in structuring the contract. Tesfaye emphasized that the futures are not designed solely for large institutions.
We want to basically provide accessibility to all, not just from an institutional perspective, but also from a retail friendly perspective, he said.
He noted that Aptos Labs worked closely with Bitnomial on contract design to ensure the product would be usable by a broad range of participants.
Aptos' Broader Market Ambitions
This includes future ambitions beyond a single derivatives product. Tesfaye pointed to a wide spectrum of potential market access points, including futures, exchange traded products, and other regulated vehicles.
Whether it is ETPs, ETFs, futures, or any derivatives, we want to provide accessibility, he added.