Groundbreaking Move: 24/7 Equity Perpetuals Get Regulatory Green Light
Amsterdam-based trading platform One Trading has secured an extension to its license, allowing it to offer 24/7 perpetual futures on equities. The approval from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) marks a notable milestone in regulated finance, positioning One Trading at the forefront of continuous trading models for traditional asset classes.
What This Means for Investors and Markets
The launch of 24/7 equity perpetuals means investors can trade perpetual futures on stocks around the clock, not just during standard market hours. Perpetual futures differ from standard futures in that they typically do not have an expiry date, offering ongoing exposure to the price movements of underlying equities. This capability broadens access to late-night liquidity and enables new hedging strategies for global portfolios that operate across multiple time zones.
Industry observers note that the Dutch regulator’s decision reflects a broader regulatory maturation for fintech and innovative trading formats in Europe. By combining a robust licensing framework with continuous-trading features, One Trading aims to deliver reliability, transparent pricing, and enhanced risk controls — essentials for any product operating in a 24/7 environment.
Regulatory Context and Compliance
The AFM’s extension signals that the platform has met a stringent set of requirements around capital adequacy, investor protection, and market integrity. In regulated markets, 24/7 products must include robust risk management tools, accurate disclosure, and measures to prevent market abuse. One Trading has reportedly aligned its risk controls, margining schemes, and liquidity provisioning to the AFM’s standards, ensuring orderly trading even during off-peak hours.
What Sets One Trading Apart?
One Trading has built a name for itself by pursuing innovative trading formats within a compliant framework. The 24/7 equity perpetuals offering, now cleared by Dutch regulators, differentiates the platform from peers that rely solely on traditional market hours or more speculative, less-regulated product structures. For institutional clients and sophisticated retail traders, the product promises continuous exposure, flexible risk management, and enhanced cross-border trading capabilities.
Analysts highlight that the Netherlands, with its mature financial services sector and strong regulatory culture, remains a fertile ground for testing new market innovations. The AFM’s approval could pave the way for additional 24/7 products once liquidity and investor protections are proven stable at scale.
What Investors Should Watch
As with any perpetual or leverage-enabled product, understanding the risk framework is key. Traders should assess funding rates, collateral requirements, liquidity depth, and potential funding costs across the 24/7 cycle. While non-stop markets can reduce the time-to-execution risk, they also amplify the need for disciplined risk management, especially in volatile conditions when spreads may widen and funding rates fluctuate.
Looking Ahead: A Regulated Frontier for Continuous Trading
The AFM’s licensing extension for One Trading signals a potential shift in how regulators view continuous-trading products. If the model proves resilient, more platforms may seek similar authorizations, expanding access to 24/7 equity products while maintaining high standards for consumer protection and market integrity. For now, One Trading’s 24/7 equity perpetuals stand as a landmark achievement in regulated finance, with the Netherlands taking a leading role in shaping the future of around-the-clock trading.
