CFTC Weighs Regulated Perpetual Contracts for Oil and Gas Trading

Two groups linked to the Hyperliquid blockchain platform have petitioned the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to allow regulated perpetual contracts for West Texas Intermediate crude, Brent crude, and Henry Hub natural gas.

The proposal aims to enable firms to hedge energy risks during weekends when traditional U.S. futures markets are closed.

According to the groups, their on-chain markets have already handled over $500 billion in trading volume since October 2025, and perpetual contracts would better predict price movements during market closures.

The CFTC is reviewing the proposal but has not yet approved energy perpetual contracts, emphasizing the need for a data-driven approach before changing trading rules.