Binance is adding physically settled options on more than 1,000 US-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds, the crypto exchange announced September 1, marking its deepest push yet into traditional finance products as equity derivatives trading volumes on the platform continue to explode in 2026.
The options will be offered through Nest Trading Limited, Binance broker-dealer regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Nest acts as the introducing broker, routing orders to US-registered Alpaca Securities for execution, clearing, settlement, and custody. The products will not be available to US users, the company said in a statement shared with The Block.
The contracts are physically settled, meaning that upon exercise, users receive or deliver the underlying shares of supported US-listed stocks and ETFs, held in custody by Alpaca on behalf of Binance users. Retail users eligible for options trading will be able to buy calls and puts, with maximum potential loss limited to the premium paid, Binance said, adding that it expects additional stock options listings over time. The initial rollout covers major names across technology, healthcare, finance, and consumer sectors of the US market.
TradFi Perpetual Volume Surges 15-Fold
The launch builds on Binance broader push into traditional financial products after the exchange rolled out trading for more than 7,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs for customers outside the United States in June. Binance also offers bStocks tokenized securities and equity-linked perpetual futures alongside its core crypto services.
Trading activity for traditional finance-linked derivatives has risen sharply throughout 2026. TradFi perpetual futures volume on Binance reached approximately $433.4 billion in August, roughly 15 times January total of $29.5 billion. Equity-linked perpetuals accounted for about 79 percent of the total, generating $342.9 billion in August compared with just $410.9 million in January, according to Binance data.
The exponential growth trajectory is remarkable by any standard. Weekly volume was effectively near zero at the start of 2026. By July, the figure reached about $30 billion per week, with a monthly run rate of around $100 billion. That pace has since accelerated even further. The cumulative historical volume for TradFi perpetuals on the exchange has already exceeded $1.6 trillion since the start of 2026, according to data compiled by Incrypted.
The surge reflects broader demand for 24/7 access to equity-linked trading from crypto-native investors who are accustomed to round-the-clock markets and prefer managing all positions from a single account. Traditional equity markets operate five and a half hours per day, five days per week, but crypto traders increasingly expect the ability to hedge or speculate on stock movements at any hour of the day or night.
Race to Offer Equity Derivatives
The move comes as rival crypto exchanges scramble to broaden their offerings around equity-linked derivatives. Bybit is set to launch 24/7 options on stock perpetuals on September 17, starting with SpaceX and Nvidia. Unlike Binance physically settled options on US-listed securities, Bybit contracts are tied to stock perpetuals and settle in USDT, representing a structurally different product that may appeal to different segments of the market.
Binance share of the ETF TradFi perpetual futures market grew from 18 percent at launch to 74 percent by July 2026. The firm has leveraged its scale and liquidity depth to dominate a product category that barely existed six months ago. This dominance mirrors the exchange earlier playbook of using aggressive pricing and deep liquidity to capture market share in crypto perpetual futures, a strategy that eventually made it the world largest derivatives venue by volume.
Stock options are an important next step in Binance evolution into a fuller multi-asset platform, Binance Head of Exchange and Trading Shunyet Jan said. By adding options on selected US stocks and ETFs, we are expanding the tools available to users who want to participate in equity markets, manage exposure, and access strategies that have historically been offered through traditional brokers, all from one Binance account.
Regulatory Complexity and Market Impact
The structure relies on a multi-jurisdictional arrangement that underscores the regulatory complexity of crypto exchanges entering the equity space. Nest Trading holds an Abu Dhabi license, Alpaca is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer in the US, and Binance itself operates under various licenses across multiple jurisdictions. By routing through Alpaca, Binance ensures that the actual execution and custody of US equities falls under US regulatory oversight, even though Binance own platform remains off-limits to American users.
The expansion also raises questions about how traditional regulators will respond as crypto-native platforms increasingly offer products that compete directly with conventional brokerages. Options on individual US stocks are among the most heavily regulated financial instruments, and the introduction of a new distribution channel through a crypto exchange may draw scrutiny from both the SEC and FINRA as the volume continues to scale rapidly through the second half of 2026.
For now, the volume numbers suggest overwhelming demand that shows no sign of slowing down. With TradFi perpetual futures already running at an annualized rate approaching $5 trillion on Binance alone, the addition of equity options adds another layer to what is fast becoming the exchange most significant growth driver outside of crypto spot and derivatives trading. The convergence of crypto-native platforms and traditional equity markets appears to be accelerating at a pace that few anticipated even a year ago, and the boundaries between digital asset exchanges and conventional brokerages continue to blur in ways that reshape both industries for good.
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