Perpetual futures, often called perps, are a type of derivatives contract that let traders take leveraged exposure to an asset without an expiration date. Unlike traditional futures, which settle on a fixed schedule and must be rolled over, perps stay open indefinitely and track the price of the underlying asset through a funding mechanism that balances long and short positions. That structure is a big reason perps gained traction in crypto markets. They remove the need to constantly manage expirations w ...