Deribit Sees US Expansion Under Crypto-Friendly Trump Regime
Deribit, the world’s biggest crypto options exchange, is looking at expansion to the US market, fueled by a more lenient regulatory regime under President Donald Trump, the Financial Times writes.
The Dubai-based exchange saw $1.3 trillion of notional volume pass through its systems last year. Its chief executive, Luuk Strijers, explained to the FT that the company is “actively reassessing potential opportunities” in the United States as a result of recent regulatory changes.
Coinbase Sees Deribit Acquisition
The potential move comes after Coinbase was said to be in serious negotiations to acquire Deribit. In March, Bloomberg had reported that the two firms had already informed Dubai regulators, with the license transfer hanging in the balance if the acquisition is completed.
The move would further solidify Coinbase’s presence in derivatives, following the same trajectory by rivals like Kraken.
Regulatory Shift Spurs Renewed Interest
Deribit’s interest follows what appears to be a US regulatory policy U-turn since Trump’s re-election. The SEC has shelved or abandoned various cases of enforcement against crypto firms, and the DOJ recently disbanded its crypto enforcement unit.
The change is a reversal of the Biden administration clampdown in the aftermath of the FTX collapse when firms like Nexo and OKX pulled out of US business.
Global Firms Reentering US Market
Now, many of those same firms are returning. Nexo announced its US comeback in April, and OKX plans to open a headquarters in San Jose. Other global players—including Switzerland’s Wintermute and Dubai’s DWF Labs—are also considering a US presence.
Trump’s vow to “make the US the crypto capital of the world” appears to be resonating with the industry. As regulatory pressure ebbs, a wave of reentry and expansion could remake the US crypto space in 2025 and beyond.
