Last Updated on 15 February 2026 by CryptoTips.eu
Top 10 Bitcoin and Crypto Futures and Derivatives Exchanges in 2026
As a cryptocurrency trader, I’m sure you’ve heard about future contracts. If not, then you’ve come to the wrong place. These contracts are very risky and only for experienced traders. Make sure you know the basics of spot trading, before you start trading with futures and leverages.
That said, before we get down to listing the top 10 Bitcoin and Crypto futures and derivatives exchanges in 2026, let’s start by defining what a future contract is? So, without further ado, let’s get started?
What is a futures contract?
Typically, a futures contract speculates that the price will go up or down, and you will sell or buy at some point or date in the future. More importantly, a future contract grants you the chance to trade on a particular cryptocurrency coin without necessarily owning the currency. Meaning, if you are trading a specific asset, you will only invest on the movements rather than hold the crypto-coin.
One of the most popular futures contracts are Bitcoin futures. These are speculation contracts based on the Bitcoin asset. For instance, as a trader, you can predict that the Bitcoin price will rise in the future, so you enter into a contract and trade with a Bitcoin seller so you can buy the coins when the price is hit.
That means you will only get the coins once the price of Bitcoin reaches the agreed-upon price. The same thing happens when you speculated that the price goes down. Now that you understand how future contracts work, it’s time to list the top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges with future contracts in 2026.
Before we dive in, keep in mind that futures trading carries extreme risk. You can lose your entire investment in seconds, especially when using high leverage. Never trade with money you can’t afford to lose, and always do your own research.
Top 10 future Bitcoin and crypto contracts exchanges in 2026
You can check out our top 10 to see which exchange suits you the best.
#1 Binance Futures
Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, with over 300 million users globally. What’s more, Binance futures are built-in within the Binance exchange. The platform supports long and short positions on hundreds of futures pairs, including USDT-margined and coin-margined perpetual contracts. More importantly, future contracts on the Binance platform come with a leverage of up to 125X.
Binance was founded back in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao (CZ). The exchange is currently applying for a MiCA license in Greece, with a deadline of July 2026. Binance offers futures contracts on a massive range of cryptocurrencies, with over 580 futures assets available.
Futures fees on Binance are competitive at 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker for the base tier. You can reduce costs further by holding BNB tokens for a 25% discount on fees. Binance also has the deepest liquidity in the futures market, meaning your orders get filled quickly with minimal slippage.
Currently, the volume of spot BTC/USDT is lower compared to the Bitcoin futures. That shows that the futures contract is snowballing and extremely popular. On this platform, you can hedge your position hence improving your trading risk management. That will also help protect your crypto-portfolio, even during the bearish market. The best part about Binance futures is that you don’t have to own the assets to trade.
Binance also maintains the SAFU (Secure Asset Fund for Users) with over $1 billion set aside to protect users in extreme scenarios. The platform publishes regular Proof of Reserves reports for full transparency.
10% discount on all Binance Futures trades + 20% lifetime discount
#2 Bybit Futures
Another cryptocurrency platform that has future contracts is Bybit. Without a doubt, Bybit is one of the most popular leverage exchanges in the crypto-world. That’s because the platform offers a leverage of up to 100X on many major trading pairs, including Ethereum and Bitcoin. More importantly, the site provides perpetual contracts that focus on the price change and not the physical asset.
Bybit has relatively high liquidity with low spreads. Also, the site is designed with a state-of-the-art blockchain tech that can quickly process hundreds of thousands of transactions per second. The best part about Bybit is that they listen to their customers. Service downtimes are one of the factors that you (hopefully) won’t see here. Hence the site is available almost all of the time.
Bybit operates a separate European platform called Bybit EU, which holds a MiCA license from Austria. However, it’s important to know that futures and derivatives trading is limited or unavailable on the European version. If you’re in Europe and want access to Bybit’s full futures product, the global platform is your option, but it comes without MiCA regulatory protection.
Futures fees on Bybit are 0.02% maker and 0.055% taker at the base tier. The platform supports both USDT-margined and coin-margined perpetual contracts, along with inverse contracts. Bybit also offers a demo trading environment where you can practice futures trading without risking real money.
As much as the maximum leverage that you can use on Bybit is 100X, it’s not constant. If you have enough funds in your account, the site can leverage it to achieve your desired contract. That helps to protect the platform from the risk of large positions.
Check out the latest bonuses below.
Exclusive deal: 10% discount on fees + $20 or $40 free crypto + up to $30k bonus
#3 MEXC Futures
MEXC has quickly become one of the go-to exchanges for futures traders, especially those looking for the widest selection of trading pairs. With over 800 futures pairs and more than 2,700 spot pairs, MEXC offers by far the largest variety of any exchange on this list. If there’s a new or obscure altcoin you want to trade futures on, chances are MEXC has it.
The platform supports leverage of up to 200X on select pairs, which is among the highest in the industry. Futures fees are extremely competitive at 0% maker and just 0.02% taker. That makes MEXC one of the cheapest exchanges for futures trading by a significant margin.
MEXC also supports both USDT-margined and coin-margined perpetual contracts. The interface is straightforward and suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. You can access copy trading features as well, which lets you follow the strategies of profitable traders.
One big caveat for European traders: MEXC does not hold a MiCA license and is headquartered in the Seychelles. This means you won’t have the regulatory protections that come with licensed European exchanges. With the MiCA deadline approaching in July 2026, it remains unclear whether MEXC will obtain a license or restrict EU access. Keep this in mind when deciding where to trade.
MEXC offers now a 10% discount on all trading fees.
#4 OKX Futures
OKX offers a comprehensive suite of futures and derivatives products that cater to both retail and professional traders. The platform supports perpetual swaps, quarterly futures, and even options trading, making it one of the most versatile derivatives platforms available in 2026. OKX provides up to 125X leverage on select pairs.
With over 100 million users worldwide, OKX has become the third-largest exchange by trading volume. The platform holds a MiCA license from Malta (MFSA) and has held a DNB registration in the Netherlands since 2024. This makes OKX one of the best-regulated options for European futures traders.
Futures fees start at 0.02% maker and 0.05% taker. OKX also supports advanced features like portfolio margin, allowing experienced traders to optimize their capital efficiency. The platform publishes regular Proof of Reserves reports, with its 38th report in January 2026 showing $31.2 billion in primary holdings.
OKX also stands out with its Web3 wallet integration, giving you access to both centralized futures trading and decentralized markets in one ecosystem. For European traders who want a fully regulated platform with a complete derivatives toolkit, OKX is hard to beat.
Ontvang bij OKX 20% extra korting op alle fees
#5 Bitget Futures
Bitget has grown into one of the largest derivatives-focused exchanges in the world, now serving over 120 million users across more than 100 countries. The platform is particularly popular for its copy trading feature, which is one of the largest in the crypto industry. This allows beginners to automatically replicate the trades of experienced futures traders.
Bitget offers up to 125X leverage on major pairs like Bitcoin and Ethereum, with over 660 futures pairs available. That’s an impressive selection that covers both major coins and smaller altcoins. Futures fees are 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker at the base tier, with discounts available through VIP tiers and by holding the BGB token (up to 20% off).
The platform supports both USDT-margined and coin-margined perpetual contracts, as well as delivery futures. Bitget also maintains a protection fund valued at over $300 million, and publishes regular Proof of Reserves to ensure transparency.
Bitget is registered in the Seychelles and does not currently hold a MiCA license, so European traders should be aware of the regulatory implications. That said, for pure futures trading features and variety, Bitget is one of the strongest options in 2026.
Bitget offers now a 10% discount on all trading fees.
#6 KuCoin Futures
KuCoin started as a platform that only accepted cryptocurrencies. That means you couldn’t deposit any fiat currencies. The platform has come a long way since then and now offers a solid futures trading experience alongside its popular spot exchange. KuCoin Futures was first launched in 2019, which allows traders to utilize Bitcoin futures contracts. The platform offers leverage of up to 100X.
KuCoin now supports futures contracts on a wide range of cryptocurrencies, not just Bitcoin and Ethereum. Futures fees are competitive at 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker. The platform also launched KuCoin EU in January 2026, a dedicated European platform. However, similar to other EU-specific platforms, futures availability may be limited on the European version.
One of KuCoin’s strengths is its lower fee structure compared to some competitors. The platform also offers trading bots and copy trading features for futures. KuCoin maintains a solid reputation in the industry and continues to expand its derivatives offering.
The site has a low fee, which makes trading on it a smooth ride. But you need to remember that future trading also carries a high risk, so you need to learn about it before you start trading. Like any other investment, future trading requires research and knowledge of the market.
10% Off All Trading Fees + 5 USDT Free Airdrop
#7 Phemex Futures
Phemex offers both spot and margin trading to its clients. That makes it one of the most competitive cryptocurrency exchanges to beat in 2026. On top of that, Phemex provides a 100X leverage on its cryptocurrencies. Phemex has a lot in common with Binance and Bybit. That’s why Phemex is listed in our top 10 cryptocurrency exchanges with future contracts in 2026. Registration on the Phemex website is relatively easy, and you can start your trading journey in a matter of minutes.
The company was founded back in 2019 by Jack Tao, and it’s been on the rise ever since then. Tao is a former Morgan Stanley veteran and has enough experience in the cryptocurrency world. That said, the exchange is owned by the Phemex Financial Company, which is a legal company in Singapore.
Phemex now supports over 500 perpetual futures contracts across USDT-margined, USDC-margined, and coin-margined pairs. The platform serves more than 10 million traders worldwide and maintains a 99.999% uptime track record. Futures fees are particularly attractive at just 0.01% maker and 0.06% taker, making Phemex one of the cheapest options for makers.
The platform also offers Pre-Market Perpetual Futures, a unique feature that lets you trade tokens before they’re even listed on spot exchanges. Phemex publishes 100% Proof of Reserves with Merkle tree verification, and the platform also features a growing copy trading ecosystem with over 17,000 experienced traders to follow.
Phemex offers its users the chance to create multiple trades with the same account, a rare opportunity in the crypto world. The best part about Phemex is that they offer low fees, so you have maximum benefits from your trades.
Exclusive $30,000 Deposit and Trade Bonus
#8 Hyperliquid
Hyperliquid is something completely different from the other exchanges on this list. It’s a decentralized exchange (DEX) that runs on its own high-performance Layer 1 blockchain. That means you trade directly from your own wallet without handing over your funds to a centralized party. This is a big deal for traders who prioritize self-custody and transparency.
Hyperliquid has become the largest decentralized perpetuals exchange by trading volume, processing around $40 billion in weekly volume as of early 2026. The platform holds roughly $9.5 billion in open interest, which is more than several major competitors combined. That’s serious liquidity for a DEX.
The platform offers up to 50X leverage on major pairs like Bitcoin and Ethereum, with a fully on-chain order book. All trades settle on-chain, meaning everything is transparent and verifiable. There are no gas fees for trading, and the maker-taker fee structure is competitive. Hyperliquid uses USDC as collateral for all positions.
The biggest advantage of Hyperliquid is that there’s no KYC required. You connect your wallet and start trading. The downside is that there’s no customer support like you’d find on centralized exchanges, and the interface can be intimidating for beginners. But for experienced futures traders who value decentralization and self-custody, Hyperliquid is the top choice in 2026.
Hyperliquid now offers a 4% discount on trading fees.
#9 BingX Futures
BingX has been growing rapidly and is now one of the most popular mid-tier exchanges for futures trading. Founded in 2018 in Singapore, BingX operates in over 150 regions and has built a strong reputation, especially for its copy trading features. If you’re a beginner looking to get into futures, BingX’s social trading platform makes it easy to follow and replicate the strategies of experienced traders.
The platform offers up to 125X leverage on Bitcoin and Ethereum, with up to 50X on altcoins. BingX supports over 280 perpetual futures contracts, which covers most of the popular trading pairs. Futures fees are competitive at 0.02% maker and 0.045% taker, making it one of the cheaper options for takers.
BingX also offers standard futures with a fixed expiry date, which is something not all exchanges provide alongside perpetuals. The platform supports both USDT-margined and coin-margined contracts, and offers cross and isolated margin modes. You can even trade forex, indices, and commodities with up to 200X leverage.
For beginners, BingX has a Futures Kick-Off feature that simplifies the futures interface down to just choosing an asset, trade amount, leverage, and direction. There’s also a demo trading account where you can practice without risking real money. BingX maintains 100% Proof of Reserves and stores 90% of assets in cold storage.
BingX now offers a 10% discount on trading fees.
#10 Aster DEX
Aster is the newest entry on this list and the second decentralized exchange (DEX) alongside Hyperliquid. Launched in late 2024 from a merger between Astherus and APX Finance, Aster has quickly gained traction thanks to its connection to Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and backing from YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs).
What sets Aster apart is its extreme leverage. The platform offers up to 1001X leverage on Bitcoin and Ethereum in “Simple Mode,” which is by far the highest on this list. Pro Mode offers a more traditional order book experience with lower leverage caps. Fees are very low, typically between 0.01% and 0.08% depending on the mode and order type.
Aster runs on its own Layer 1 blockchain and supports multiple chains including BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum. The platform offers some unique features like Hidden Orders (your limit orders stay invisible on the order book until execution) and tokenized stock perpetuals for trading US equities like Apple and Tesla 24/7.
With over 2 million users and $500 billion in cumulative trading volume since launch, Aster is growing fast. The Aster Chain mainnet is targeted for Q1 2026, which should further improve speed and reduce costs. Like Hyperliquid, there’s no KYC required. However, the extreme leverage options make Aster particularly risky for inexperienced traders. Use extreme caution if you decide to trade here.
Aster now offers a 4% discount on trading fees.
In Summary
Future contracts are easy to understand the concept, but it takes a bit of time to attempt a trade. Also, the fact that future contracts carry a high risk makes it hard for newbies to trade using these contracts. When the trade goes in the opposite direction, you face a high chance of liquidation depending on the amount of capital you have in your account. Meaning, you might just lose all your funds if you are not careful. That’s why you should stay away from Bitcoin futures as a beginner.
The futures landscape has changed dramatically. Alongside established centralized exchanges like Binance, Bybit, and OKX, we now see decentralized alternatives like Hyperliquid and Aster gaining serious volume. For European traders, MiCA regulation is an important factor to consider. Exchanges like OKX (Malta), Bybit EU (Austria), and Binance (pending Greece) offer regulatory protection, while platforms like MEXC, Bitget, and the DEXs operate without EU licensing.
Here’s a quick comparison of futures fees across all 10 exchanges:
| Exchange | Maker Fee | Taker Fee | Max Leverage | Type | Referral Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance | 0.02% | 0.05% | 125x | CEX | 10% for 30 days |
| Bybit | 0.02% | 0.055% | 100x | CEX | 10% for 30 days |
| MEXC | 0% | 0.02% | 200x | CEX | 10% lifetime |
| OKX | 0.02% | 0.05% | 125x | CEX | 20% lifetime |
| Bitget | 0.02% | 0.06% | 125x | CEX | 10% lifetime |
| KuCoin | 0.02% | 0.06% | 100x | CEX | 10% lifetime |
| Phemex | 0.01% | 0.06% | 100x | CEX | – |
| Hyperliquid | Varies | Varies | 50x | DEX | 4% discount |
| BingX | 0.02% | 0.045% | 125x | CEX | 10% lifetime |
| Aster | 0.01-0.08% | 0.01-0.08% | 1001x | DEX | 4% discount |
That said, future contracts are best left for advanced traders who’ve done their research on the market. Always use stop-loss orders, start with low leverage, and never invest more than you can afford to lose. Results from the past provide no guarantee for the future.
Navigation
