Ripple, the blockchain company behind the XRP Ledger, announced on March 5, 2026, that its institutional clients on the Ripple Prime platform now have direct access to the full range of crypto futures listed on the Coinbase Derivatives Exchange. This integration provides a new, regulated pathway for institutions to trade crypto derivatives within a framework overseen by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The offering includes both nano and institutional-sized futures contracts. Nano contracts for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are designed to lower the capital required for trading. The available contracts cover Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana (SOL), and XRP, in both standard and smaller sizes, and include both traditional and perpetual-style futures. All trades are cleared through Nodal Clear, a CFTC-regulated Derivatives Clearing Organization, which accepted Ripple as a clearing member and provides 24/7 clearing and settlement services.
This move is significant for institutional clients who require counterparty safety, clear regulatory rules, and centralized clearing—features that informal crypto trading venues often lack. The 24-hour availability is cited as a basic operational requirement for institutions managing global payment and liquidity operations across time zones.
The new service is built on the infrastructure of Hidden Road Partners, a Futures Commission Merchant and prime broker that Ripple acquired in 2025 for $1.25 billion. This entity now operates as Ripple Prime, offering brokerage, clearing, and financing services. Ripple highlighted that its Prime platform cleared over $3 trillion in trading volume in 2025.
For Ripple's core business in cross-border payments and liquidity management, this integration is strategically crucial. It allows clients, such as those managing XRP liquidity for remittance flows, to hedge their crypto exposure within the same platform that handles their underlying transactions, thereby reducing operational complexity and friction.
This announcement is part of Ripple's broader acquisition strategy over the past year, which has also included the purchase of stablecoin payments firm Rail for $200 million, treasury technology provider GTreasury, and crypto wallet infrastructure startup Palisade, all aimed at expanding its digital assets offerings for institutions.
