Institutional

The Future of Gold and Silver Trading is on Coinbase

By Coinbase

TL;DR

  • Coinbase has launched gold (GOLD-PERP) and silver (SILVER-PERP) perpetual futures for eligible non‑US traders, bringing two of the world’s most established store‑of‑value assets into the crypto derivatives ecosystem.

  • Coming soon, gold and silver futures on Coinbase Derivatives (CDE) will move to 24/7 trading for eligible US traders, aligning precious metals with the always‑on nature of crypto markets for the first time in US futures history.

the future of gold and silver is on coinbase

Gold and Silver perpetual futures now live

Coinbase has launched gold and silver perpetual futures for eligible traders outside the US, available for institutions through Coinbase International Exchange and retail traders through coinbase.com and the Coinbase app in supported jurisdictions.

These derivatives are designed to make 24/7 commodity exposure as accessible and capital‑efficient as trading crypto perps:

  • Products:

    • GOLD-PERP: Linear perpetual future referencing spot 1 troy ounce of gold

    • SILVER-PERP: Linear perpetual future referencing spot 1 troy ounce of silver

  • Structure:

    • Perpetual (no expiry or rollover)

    • USDC‑settled, with PnL realized directly in USDC

  • Trading experience:

    • 24/7/365 trading (excluding scheduled maintenance)

    • Designed for low minimum order sizes so traders can scale in and out around macro events

    • Up to 25x maximum leverage, with institutional‑grade risk controls

By launching gold and silver perps, Coinbase extends the same “TradFi assets on crypto rails” thesis used for our recent launch of stock perpetual futures into the commodities space, reinforcing our strategy to build an Everything Exchange where traders can access crypto, traditional assets, and emerging products side by side.

24/7 Gold & Silver Futures in the US coming soon

For eligible US traders, gold and silver exposure already exists today via commodity futures listed on Coinbase Derivatives (CDE) alongside our crypto and equity index products.

We are actively working with the CFTC to move our gold and silver US futures to 24/7 trading, bringing precious metals in line with the always‑on nature of crypto markets and enabling:

  • Weekend hedging and risk management around macro headlines

  • Continuous price discovery instead of waiting for Monday re‑opens

  • More efficient cross‑asset strategies, where traders can manage crypto and commodity positions on a single, regulated exchange

CDE is a CFTC‑regulated Designated Contract Market offering crypto, commodity, and equity index futures through a network of Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) and broker partners.

US traders will continue to access CDE products via approved FCMs and broker platforms, as detailed on coinbase.com/derivatives and the Coinbase Derivatives Help Center.

Why gold and silver, why now?

Gold and silver have served as cornerstones of the global financial system for centuries. Today, they remain among the largest and most widely traded assets in the world, with the global gold market estimated at more than $13 trillion and silver at roughly $1.4 trillion.

Throughout history, demand for precious metals has tended to rise during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, as investors turn to them as stores of value. In 2024, gold reached all-time highs above $2,400 per ounce amid strong central bank accumulation, inflation-hedging demand, and heightened geopolitical risk. Similar dynamics are unfolding today, as rising geopolitical tensions and macro uncertainty drive increased volatility and trading activity across global commodity markets.

However, access to traditional gold and silver futures markets has historically come with meaningful barriers: 

  • Higher minimum contract sizes, limiting participation to institutional or larger traders

  • Restricted trading hours, typically operating on a 23/5 schedule 

  • Specialized brokerage accounts and operational overhead required to access these markets

Gold and silver trading on Coinbase is designed to modernize how traders can access these markets: 

  • 24/7 trading, providing continuous access to markets as macro events and global risk unfold outside of traditional market hours 

  • Lower barriers to entry through smaller contract sizing and USDC settlement 

  • Capital-efficient hedging and speculation, with embedded leverage

Commodities meet crypto infrastructure

Crypto derivatives have long been the backbone of digital asset trading, with perpetual futures accounting for the majority of volume across various global venues. Over the last 18–24 months, Coinbase has steadily extended its derivatives offerings beyond just native tokens, including:

  • Perpetual futures across a broad set of crypto assets via Coinbase International Exchange and Coinbase Advanced

  • US Perpetual‑Style Futures for BTC, ETH, and various altcoins on CDE

  • Equity index futures and stock perps, connecting traditional equities with crypto‑native infrastructure

The next frontier is commodities:

  • In Q1 2026, CDE saw over $52 billion in notional volume across traditional commodity futures – 7.6% of all contracts traded that quarter – underscoring the growing appetite for metals and energy derivatives. 

  • Internal and third‑party datasets show a steady rise in trading volumes for commodity‑linked products within the crypto ecosystem, from on‑exchange futures to structured products and DeFi‑based exposures.

  • The launch of gold and silver perps creates a new, always‑on venue for weekend and overnight price discovery in precious metals, particularly in regions where traditional futures may be less accessible.

The evidence is clear: the world’s oldest stores of value belong on crypto rails, unlocking 24/7 trading, programmatic settlement, and globally accessible capital efficiency.

Getting started

  • Non‑US traders: Gold and silver perpetual futures are available to eligible non‑US retail traders on coinbase.com and the Coinbase app and to institutions on Coinbase International Exchange in supported jurisdictions.

  • US traders: Gold and silver futures will be available for 24/7 trading on Coinbase Derivatives through participating FCMs and broker platforms, subject to standard maintenance windows and local eligibility requirements.


Disclaimers

  • Stock and commodity perpetual futures (including gold and silver perps) on Coinbase International Exchange are offered by Coinbase Bermuda Ltd., a Class F entity licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority., and are available to users in eligible jurisdictions.

  • Futures contracts (including gold and silver futures) on Coinbase Derivatives (CDE) are offered on a CFTC‑regulated Designated Contract Market, and are accessible to both retail and institutional traders via approved FCM partners listed on coinbase.com/derivatives

  • All trading and investment strategies involve risk, including loss of capital, and may not be suitable for everyone. Leverage can work for or against you, and losses may exceed your initial investment. You should carefully consider your financial situation, experience, and risk tolerance before trading and only trade products you fully understand. Learn more.

  • This blog is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial product.

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Disclaimers: Derivatives trading through the Coinbase Advanced platform is offered to eligible EEA customers by Coinbase Financial Services Europe Ltd. (CySEC License 374/19). In order to access derivatives, customers will need to pass through our standard assessment checks to determine their eligibility and suitability for this product.