Coinbase and Kraken Under Pressure as Bitnomial Leads Race For US Crypto Leverage

Core Insights - Bitnomial has received the first approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to list leveraged crypto products, marking a significant shift in U.S. crypto regulation [1][6] - The CFTC's Acting Chair Caroline Pham criticized previous enforcement-based regulations that hindered the development of a safe trading environment for retail investors [2][4] - Major exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken are now positioned to follow Bitnomial in offering leveraged trading products, as they have the necessary licenses [6][7] Regulatory Changes - The CFTC's recent approval signifies a move towards a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, with expectations for more exchanges to introduce leveraged trading products by 2025 [2][7] - The previous restrictive guidance from the CFTC led to a reduction in margin trading features among U.S. exchanges, with Kraken and Bitfinex facing penalties [4][5] Market Implications - The approval for Bitnomial is seen as a catalyst for other exchanges, which are now eager to reintroduce spot leverage features [6][7] - Kraken's acquisition of Small Exchange is part of a strategy to integrate various trading products into a single regulated system, indicating a trend towards consolidation in the crypto trading space [7]