Blockchain.com said on October 13, 2026 that it has submitted applications to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for registration as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) and designation as a Designated Contract Market (DCM).
If approved, the registrations would enable the company to offer regulated crypto derivatives, including futures and options, alongside prediction market contracts to retail and institutional customers in the United States. The applications have not been described as approvals.
In its announcement, Blockchain.com described a fragmented U.S. trading landscape in which customers often use different platforms for crypto and prediction markets. It aims to combine those markets in a single, straightforward app experience under CFTC oversight.
Earlier in 2026, the company announced self-custodied prediction market services and perpetual futures trading for customers in eligible markets worldwide. It said the CFTC applications represent a step toward making similar prediction markets and regulated trading services available directly to U.S. customers through its app.
Peter Smith, Blockchain.com’s Executive Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, said users should be able to manage digital assets, trade derivatives and take positions on real-world events without switching between apps. He described the DCM and FCM applications as part of building that experience in the United States within the appropriate regulatory frameworks. Smith said the company’s goal is to offer customers a wider range of markets on its existing platform while delivering the compliance, security and transparency they expect.
Global licensing strategy
Blockchain.com said the filings further its global regulatory strategy. As digital assets become more integrated into financial markets, the company says it has continued investing in approvals and licences across major jurisdictions.
According to the announcement, over the past year Blockchain.com obtained MiCA authorization through the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) in the European Union, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registration in the United Kingdom, and a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licence in the Cayman Islands. It said seeking federal CFTC oversight follows the same approach in the United States, combining clear regulatory frameworks with infrastructure designed for institutional use.
For background, Toktimes has covered the broader regulatory challenges facing crypto.
About Blockchain.com
Founded in 2011, Blockchain.com says it has supported more than 95 million wallets, over 44 million confirmed accounts and more than $1.1 trillion in crypto transactions. The company reports operating in more than 70 jurisdictions, offering self-custody, institutional services and an expanding product range aligned with global regulation and privacy standards.
