Former FTX US President Brett Harrison Launches Crypto-Style Perpetual Futures for Stocks

• Former FTX US President Brett Harrison launches Architect Financial Technologies.

• The platform gains Bermuda approval for perpetual futures on stocks, indexes, commodities, currencies, and interest rates.

• Crypto perps trading volumes reached $6.4 trillion monthly in 2025, up from $35 billion in 2018, highlighting their popularity.

Discover how Brett Harrison’s Architect Financial Technologies revolutionizes trading with perpetual futures for stocks and more. Explore risks, benefits, and regulatory insights in traditional finance. Stay ahead in 2025 markets.

What Are Perpetual Futures and How Is Brett Harrison Bringing Them to Traditional Assets?

Perpetual futures, or perps, are derivative contracts that allow traders to speculate on asset prices with leverage without expiration dates, a feature popularized in cryptocurrency markets. Brett Harrison, former president of FTX US, is now launching Architect Financial Technologies, which has secured regulatory approval in Bermuda to offer these contracts tied to stocks, indexes, commodities, foreign currencies, and interest rates. This move aims to infuse traditional finance with crypto’s innovative trading tools while addressing past regulatory concerns.

How Do Perpetual Futures Work in Bridging Crypto and Traditional Finance?

Perpetual futures enable traders to take long or short positions with high leverage, such as up to 100 times in some crypto platforms, without the need for physical delivery or expiry. To maintain price alignment with underlying spot markets, a funding rate mechanism periodically adjusts payments between long and short positions based on market imbalances. According to Bloomberg reports, Harrison’s new venture, Architect Financial Technologies, received approval from Bermuda regulators on Wednesday to extend this model to non-crypto assets, potentially democratizing access to sophisticated hedging and speculation tools for institutional and retail investors alike.

This expansion builds on the success of perps in crypto, where monthly trading volumes exploded to $6.4 trillion in 2025 from just $35 billion in 2018, as noted in industry analyses. Platforms like BitMEX and FTX initially drove this growth by offering seamless, 24/7 trading environments. However, Harrison’s FTX US operated under stricter U.S. regulations and did not provide such products, focusing instead on compliant spot trading and simpler derivatives.

The collapse of FTX in November 2022, following a liquidity crisis that revealed significant shortfalls, underscored the risks involved. Despite this, perps have become a staple in crypto exchanges such as Binance, OKX, Bybit, and Bitget, which dominate the market with robust liquidity pools and advanced risk management features. By adapting this instrument for traditional assets, Architect Financial Technologies could attract traders seeking the flexibility of crypto-style leverage amid volatile global markets, including fluctuating interest rates and commodity prices.

Source: Bloomberg

Experts emphasize the dual-edged nature of perps. Fenni Kang, an executive at Coincall, highlighted in a May interview that for novice traders, these contracts can amplify losses rapidly due to overextended margin usage. “Even minor price swings can lead to liquidations, turning perps into a ticking time bomb for the unprepared,” Kang stated, drawing from observations of crypto market behaviors. Regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), issued warnings in 2023 about insufficient safeguards in perp trading, such as inadequate margin requirements and settlement processes that could exacerbate systemic risks.

Despite these challenges, the appeal lies in their efficiency. Unlike traditional futures with fixed expiries, perps offer continuous exposure, making them ideal for hedging in fast-moving markets. Harrison’s initiative in Bermuda, a jurisdiction known for its progressive fintech regulations, positions Architect Financial Technologies to navigate these issues while complying with international standards. This could pave the way for broader adoption in traditional finance, where similar products have long been limited by legacy systems and conservative oversight.

The surge in crypto perpetual futures trading volume. Source: Bloomberg

Market data from Bloomberg illustrates the perp boom: trading activity in crypto perps has not only surged but also stabilized, with daily volumes often exceeding those of spot markets. This trend suggests untapped potential for traditional assets, where perps could enhance liquidity in less efficient segments like emerging market currencies or niche commodities. Harrison, leveraging his experience from FTX US—a regulated entity separate from the global arm—brings credibility to the venture, emphasizing compliance and transparency to mitigate past pitfalls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Brett Harrison’s Role in Launching Perpetual Futures for Stocks?

Brett Harrison, who served as president of FTX US until its 2022 collapse, is founding Architect Financial Technologies to introduce perpetual futures for traditional assets. Approved in Bermuda, the platform targets stocks, currencies, and commodities, offering leveraged trading without expiry dates to appeal to a broader investor base seeking crypto-like efficiency in conventional markets.

Are Perpetual Futures Safe for Trading Traditional Assets Like Commodities?

Perpetual futures for commodities and other assets carry significant risks due to leverage, which can magnify losses during volatile periods. While funding rates help align prices, experts like Fenni Kang from Coincall advise using them cautiously, with proper risk management to avoid liquidations. Regulatory approvals in places like Bermuda provide some safeguards, but traders should assess their experience level before engaging.

Key Takeaways

• Regulatory Milestone: Architect Financial Technologies secures Bermuda approval for perps on stocks and traditional assets, marking a key step in blending crypto innovation with finance.
• Market Growth Insight: Crypto perps volumes hit $6.4 trillion monthly in 2025, demonstrating proven demand that could extend to commodities and currencies.
• Risk Management Action: Traders should prioritize margin controls and understand funding rates to navigate the high-stakes nature of perpetual futures effectively.

Conclusion

Brett Harrison’s Architect Financial Technologies represents a pivotal evolution for perpetual futures in traditional finance, extending their reach to stocks, currencies, commodities, and beyond through Bermuda’s regulatory framework. By addressing past controversies from platforms like FTX, this venture underscores the maturation of derivative trading. As markets evolve in 2025, investors are encouraged to explore these tools responsibly, staying informed on regulatory updates to capitalize on emerging opportunities in a hybrid financial landscape.