Blockchain.com has filed for licenses with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to offer crypto derivatives and prediction markets to U.S. customers, according to a company announcement reported by KuCoin on Thursday.

The application marks a structural shift for the London-based firm. Blockchain.com built its business on retail spot trading and self-custody wallets, services that sit outside most CFTC jurisdiction. A derivatives license would place the company under direct federal derivatives supervision in the United States.

The CFTC regulates futures, options and swaps on commodities, including crypto assets classed as commodities such as bitcoin and ether. Registered firms must meet capital requirements, customer fund segregation rules and reporting obligations under the Commodity Exchange Act.

What would the licenses allow?

A CFTC registration would let Blockchain.com offer regulated leveraged products to U.S. traders rather than routing them to offshore venues. The filing also covers prediction markets, a sector now dominated by CFTC-registered exchanges such as Kalshi and Crypto.com's recently launched event contracts platform.

The move follows a broader industry pattern. Coinbase acquired the CFTC-licensed Deribit exchange in 2025 to enter U.S. derivatives, and several spot-focused platforms have pursued similar registrations as U.S. regulators clarified crypto oversight under the current administration.

Why prediction markets now?

Event contracts have drawn record volumes since the 2024 U.S. election, when Polymarket, an offshore venue inaccessible to U.S. users, processed billions in weekly trades. Regulated domestic alternatives have since multiplied, and Blockchain.com appears positioned to capture part of that demand.

The filing signals that the company expects favorable treatment. The CFTC has signaled openness toward prediction markets under Acting Chairman Caroline Pham, who has prioritized regulatory clarity for event contracts and crypto derivatives.

Approval timelines for CFTC registrations typically run several months, depending on the application type and the agency's review capacity. If granted, the licenses would let Blockchain.com compete directly with Coinbase, Crypto.com and traditional futures brokers for U.S. derivatives flow.

Until the CFTC acts, Blockchain.com's U.S. offering remains limited to spot trading and custody.