Most of the entrepreneurs think spot trading is enough.

But they’ve no idea how perpetual futures are going to change their business.

Perpetual futures are not just about adding another trading pair; they have the power to change how their users behave.

Even when the market is dull, traders use the site, hedge risks, take larger positions, and check in every day. That's how a slow exchange might suddenly become one that grows quickly.

In this blog, we'll show how perpetual futures transform the way crypto exchanges work, which top exchanges have implemented perpetual futures trading and provide a guide to integrate this platform.

What are Perpetual Futures?

Perpetual futures are also known as crypto trading contracts that have no expiration date, allowing traders to keep long or short positions for as long as they choose. They never settle on a specific date, compared to regular futures. 

A "funding rate", a little charge transferred between traders that depends on market direction, keeps the price near the spot market. Perpetual futures are frequently used for risk hedging, leverage trading, and price movement prediction without actually owning the asset.

Why You Should Enter the Perpetual Futures Market in 2026?

In 2026, you should enter the perpetual futures market, because this is the place where most of the revenue is generated. When compared to spot markets, perpetual futures generate more revenue, more trading volume, and more active users. 

Perps are usually preferred by traders due to their ability to apply leverage, hedge risk, and trade 24/7. Exchanges that provide these features enjoy better user retention, deeper liquidity, and faster growth.

Perpetual futures can now manage a lot more volume than spot, often 3 to 5 times more, according to actual statistics. The open interest, which means money kept in active positions, is always in the top shows that traders are actively participating in these markets and are not likely to leave anytime soon.

This means that an exchange will see a growth in daily trades, fees, liquidity, and serious users. When more users enter, it helps exchanges expand faster than spot-only transactions.

By entering into the perpetual futures market in 2026, you are not only adding another feature, but you are also becoming part of the largest and most powerful sector in the cryptocurrency trading industry.

How Crypto Exchanges Grow Faster with Perpetual Futures?

One of the most powerful growth factors for today's cryptocurrency exchanges is perpetual futures. They target active traders who desire leverage, strong liquidity, and the ability to trade without expiration anytime. 

Here’s how they speed up growth:

High trading volume

Perpetual futures generate more trades each day because traders can open large positions with a small amount, short the market, and respond immediately to price changes. The volume of the exchange exceeds spot trading due to this high turnover.

More fees per user

A typical futures trader makes many trades over a period of a week or even a single day. That eliminates the need for millions of new signups and increases fee income from the same user base.

Better user retention

A trader usually stays with the same platform once they develop routines around funding rates, leverage, hedging, and margin systems. This lowers user turnover and makes the exchange "sticky."

Attracts high-value traders and institutions

Perpetual futures are used by automated bots, funds, and professional traders for their effective capital usage, extensive order books, and leverage. This improves the platform's liquidity and brand.

Multiple revenue streams

Exchanges not only make money from trading fees. They also earn from cross-margin loans, funding fees, liquidations, and subscription-based pro features. This attracts more entrepreneurs to build one.

This shows perpetual futures trading platform can transform an exchange from a simple trading platform into a trader-driven, high-revenue engine.

Top Exchanges Integrating Perpetual Futures Trading

Today, some of the biggest players in crypto and finance are rushing to add perpetual futures to their platforms, and each is doing so in its own unique way. Let’s see them:

• Binance is the industry leader, offering over 340 futures pairings and generating millions of dollars in daily BTC perpetual trading. It continues to attract both professional and individual investors due to its extensive liquidity and features.
• Coinbase took the game more seriously in 2024, founding its own derivatives arm. The exchange is aimed toward institutional traders, with low costs, strict compliance, and a "regulated-first" reputation.
• Hyperliquid is an upcoming decentralized player. Instead of a central order book, it operates entirely on-chain and shares money with its community, making it a popular choice among DeFi enthusiasts.
• SGX (Singapore Exchange) highlights how traditional markets are engaging in. It is introducing regulated BTC perpetual contracts for organizations that seek secure, compliance settings.
• THORChain advances innovation by offering cross-chain perpetual futures without the use of wrapped tokens. That means users may exchange native-chain assets directly, solving the major issue of interoperability.

All of these exchanges show how perpetual futures are becoming an essential service in both centralized and decentralized financial markets, as well as in traditional ones.

How to Successfully Integrate and Scale Perpetual Futures Trading?

If your exchange wants to succeed in this highly competitive market, it should do three things at once: create a product that traders value, manage risk carefully, and gain clients' trust with strong compliance from day one. This is what perpetual futures trading can do. 

Here’s a simple guide to make it:

Build a product that traders demand, not just a menu of pairs

Begin with what real traders look for.

• High leverage when legal, up to 100x-125x to compete, but with practical restrictions depending on asset volatility and position size.
• Wide asset selection, not just BTC/ETH, but also altcoins, DeFi, meme coins, and even themed indices.
• Stablecoin- and coin-marginated contracts to meet different collateral types.
• A UI that works for all levels, simple trading mode for beginners + complete TradingView charts, unique layouts, and advanced order types for professionals
• Built-in risk features include stop-loss, take-profit, OCO, post-only, and even bots or copy trading to maintain loyal clients.

Before increasing the number of users, ensure liquidity

Perpetuals grow only when execution is simple.

• Onboarding top market makers with refunds or incentives can help build deep order books.
• APIs are ultra-stable and low-latency, allowing algo traders to work without friction.
• Predictable charge structure (maker/taker) with discounts for volume or native token usage.

Treat risk management as survival rather than a feature

High leverage multiplies both profits and losses.

• To avoid manipulation, use a fair liquidation engine based on index prices.
• Insurance fund to cover bankruptcy holdings and avoid forced ADL for winners
• Tiered leverage and risk restrictions to avoid cascade failures
• Trader-side safety features include isolated vs. cross margin and immediate alerts.

Maintain compliance and security from day one.

Derivatives are monitored more rigorously than spot:

• Follow clear KYC/AML and jurisdiction regulations, supported by in-house or external legal counsel.
• Implement strict safety measures such as cold storage, multi-signature, two-factor authentication, audits, withdrawal whitelists, and penetration testing.
• Show transparency, like proof of reserves or public audits, to build long-term trust.

If you treat it as a "switch on and earn" function will fail quickly, while others that design it as a key business unit will scale for years.

Conclusion

Think of perpetual futures as a powerful accelerator for crypto exchanges.

They let users trade at any time, long or short, and leverage, without worrying about expiration dates. This means more transactions, activity, revenue and growth. But it's not just the numbers that matter. A smooth, safe, and trustworthy trade experience keeps clients satisfied and loyal.

As a leading crypto perpetual exchange development company, Hashcodex provide high-quality, safe, and versatile solutions for both startups and existing businesses. Our unique strategy combines innovative technology, an enjoyable user interface, and outstanding support to help your exchange survive in a competitive market.

Ready to take your exchange to the next level? Get a free demo today!