Bitfinex Derivatives announced a collaboration with crypto derivatives exchange Thalex to expand its portfolio of services, including options and dated and perpetual futures trading.

The open beta integration between the Seychelles-based duo was orchestrated to allow Bitfinex Derivatives customers access to Thalex’s slate of crypto options and futures products for trades.

Implications of Bitfinex Derivatives-Thalex integration

In addition, the integration of the two derivatives trading platforms is aimed at reducing friction related to user onboarding, fund deposits and trading on Thalex. Speaking in detail about the strategic initiative, the announcement shared with Cointelegraph stated:

“It also represents an innovative distribution model, where exchanges work together to facilitate adoption of specialized products on new platforms such as Thalex.”

Bitfinex Derivatives and Thalex expect significant growth in crypto options and dated futures trading, considering that options and dated futures currently account for just 3% and 2% of the daily crypto derivatives volume of $100 billion.

Speaking about the launch of the public beta of the integration with Thalex, Paolo Ardoino, chief technology officer of Bitfinex Derivatives, said:

“Crypto derivative products, such as stablecoin-settled futures and options instruments, are critical to ensuring a more stable and orderly market, and we expect considerable demand for these features.”

Plans for the growth of crypto derivatives ecosystem

According to both platforms, the lack of education and dedicated platforms that can facilitate linear, stablecoin-settled contracts, combined with robust technology and liquidity, hamper the growth of the crypto derivates market.

In this regard, Hendrik Ghys, the CEO of Thalex, explained how Options and Dated Futures complement the Perpetuals ecosystem:

“Futures enable fixing the cost of carry of a delta position while options provide access to non-linear payoffs and volatility exposure. Together, options and futures expand a trader’s toolkit with more ways to hedge or generate yield.”

On July 6, the digital asset platform Bitfinex Securities said it would refund investors for its Hilton hotel venture at El Salvador’s international airport after it failed to attract the $500,000 minimum funding needed to continue.

The project, which marked the first public offering of digital debt assets in El Salvador, attracted $342,000 from investors before the first deadline — which accounted for 5% of the $6.25 million it was looking to raise.

“As per the Relevant Information Document, Bitfinex will be refunding all investors,” a Bitfinex spokesperson confirmed with Cointelegraph.