KuCoin Launched New Perpetual Futures Contracts
The platform introduced synthetic futures for Nike, Accenture, and the Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Investing
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KuCoin has expanded its trading offerings by launching perpetual futures contracts for Nike, Accenture, and the Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF. The products are settled in USDT and track the prices of their reference assets.
Why it matters
These synthetic products allow traders to speculate on the price movements of major equities and ETFs without the need to own the underlying shares directly. By offering these instruments, the platform enables continuous trading exposure for international users.
The new perpetual contracts, listed under symbols BWETUSDT, NKEUSDT, and ACNXUSDT, feature a maximum leverage of 20x. They operate on a 24-hour trading cycle and are settled in USDT.
The players
KuCoin
This is a global cryptocurrency exchange that provides a platform for trading various digital assets and derivatives.
Nike
This is a multinational corporation that designs, develops, and sells athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment.
Accenture
This is a professional services company that provides a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, technology, and operations.
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF
This is an exchange-traded fund designed to provide exposure to the freight futures market for crude oil and petroleum product tankers.
The details
The contracts function as synthetic instruments that track the reference prices of the chosen assets rather than involving the ownership of actual stock or ETF units. Trading for these new listings commenced at 5 a.m. ET as part of the exchange's ongoing expansion of derivative products.
Timeline
October 5, 2026: KuCoin launched perpetual futures contracts.
5 a.m. ET: Trading of the new contracts began.
Market Dynamics
The launch of these contracts follows the industry-wide trend of crypto exchanges integrating synthetic traditional assets to compete with centralized brokerage platforms. This positioning reflects a broader shift toward merging decentralized trading technology with exposure to established equity markets.
Retail investors can now utilize up to 20x leverage to gain exposure to Nike, Accenture, and shipping industry volatility. Users should be aware that these synthetic positions do not grant shareholder voting rights or dividends and involve higher risk profiles than direct equity ownership.
The takeaway
Perpetual futures offer a way to hedge or speculate on asset prices without managing physical ownership of shares. Traders should carefully assess the risks associated with high leverage and the synthetic nature of these contracts before execution.
Further reading
For more on the mechanics of synthetic assets, visit the Investing section.
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Is now a good time to trade stock-based perpetual contracts on crypto exchanges?
