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Perpetual Markets

Definition

Perpetual markets are trading venues for derivative contracts that lack an expiration date, allowing positions to be held indefinitely. Unlike traditional futures contracts, perpetual contracts do not require physical settlement or periodic rollovers, instead using a funding rate mechanism to keep the contract price close to the underlying asset’s spot price. This structure offers traders continuous exposure to asset price movements without the complexities of managing expiry dates. They are highly popular in cryptocurrency trading due to their flexibility.