Deribit Announces Plans to Expand to US

Deribit, the world’s leading crypto options exchange, is considering entering the US market, motivated by a more favorable regulatory climate under President Donald Trump, according to a recent Financial Times report.

The Dubai-based exchange, which handled $1.3 trillion in notional volume last year, is “actively reassessing potential opportunities” in the US, CEO Luuk Strijers told the FT.

He pointed to the “recent shift toward a more favorable regulatory stance on crypto in the US” as a key motivator.

This potential move comes amid reports that Coinbase is in advanced talks to acquire Deribit. According to a March 21 Bloomberg report, both companies have informed regulators in Dubai, where Deribit holds a license. If the acquisition proceeds, the license would need to be transferred to Coinbase.