Bitnomial, a Chicago-based derivatives exchange regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has announced the addition of Ripple USD (RLUSD) and XRP as margin collateral for its trading products. This milestone, revealed on November 4, 2025, makes Bitnomial the first U.S.-registered exchange to approve a stablecoin as native margin, setting a new precedent for digital asset integration in the derivatives market.
The exchange, which previously supported only Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) for margin deposits, now allows institutional clients to post RLUSD and XRP as collateral for futures, perpetuals, and options trading on its institutional platform. Retail traders will gain access through Botanical, Bitnomial's consumer-focused trading venue, ensuring broad availability.
Luke Hoersten, CEO of Bitnomial, commented on the evolution: "Adding RLUSD and XRP as margin collateral represents a major evolution in how traders can deploy their digital assets. RLUSD brings stablecoin efficiency to our margin system, allowing traders to hold USD-equivalent positions on-chain while accessing our full suite of derivatives products. Combined with XRP support, this gives our clients unprecedented flexibility in how they manage capital across their trading strategies." Hoersten shared these remarks at the Ripple Swell conference in New York, underscoring the strengthened partnership with Ripple.
Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoins at Ripple, added: "With today's announcement adding native support for RLUSD and XRP as margin collateral, Bitnomial cements its position as one of the most forward-thinking derivatives exchanges in the U.S. Stablecoins are moving from primarily speculative use cases to real-world applications, with RLUSD, as a trusted tier-1 USD-backed stablecoin, leading the pack." This move aligns with Ripple's strategy to bridge traditional finance and digital markets, enhancing XRP's utility in institutional settings.
The expansion reflects a broader industry trend toward crypto-native collateral systems, reducing settlement friction and counterparty risk. By incorporating RLUSD and XRP, Bitnomial aims to boost capital efficiency for traders who prefer using digital assets directly, without converting to fiat, while maintaining regulatory compliance under CFTC oversight.
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