This would be an important step for Europe: derivatives exchange Eurex is reportedly working on listing at least three cryptocurrencies on its platform.
Crypto derivatives trading coming soon to Germany?
After the Stuttgart Stock Exchange launched the Bison app — an engaging tool for crypto trading in the German market — it now appears Eurex is preparing to bridge the gap to digital currencies as well. Eurex, operated by Deutsche Börse, is Europe’s largest provider for trading financial derivatives. According to recent industry reports, the platform operator intends to expand its product range by adding several cryptocurrencies as underlying assets. That move would place Eurex among the growing number of major exchanges entering the crypto derivatives space.
Closing the gap with US competitors
Two U.S. competitors are already further along. The CME Group, now a global leader in options and futures trading, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), a major international exchange, both began offering Bitcoin futures on their platforms at the end of 2017. Those listings gave institutional and professional traders regulated venues for betting on Bitcoin price movements, and signaled mainstream acceptance of crypto derivatives.
An official statement from the exchange is expected soon
Reports say Eurex plans to list Bitcoin as a new underlying asset. In addition, the derivatives exchange is said to be preparing to add Ethereum and Ripple as further underlyings. It’s important to note that derivatives trading involves speculating on price movements rather than directly holding the digital currencies. A key advantage is the ability to take short positions, allowing market participants to hedge or offset losses without selling coins during price declines. Insiders indicate that detailed information will be released in the coming days and that preparations have been underway for some time.
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