Bitcoin futures function similarly to commodity or stock futures: you lock in a price today for BTC to be delivered (or cash-settled) on a future date. Traders use them to hedge against volatility or to bet on price movements without holding actual BTC. Major platforms like the CME list regulated Bitcoin futures, while many crypto exchanges offer their own.

Futures can signal market sentiment and attract institutional interest but also introduce complexity: leverage, margin calls, and the possibility of market manipulation. Some worry that derivative products overshadow real spot demand. Others see futures as a sign of Bitcoin’s maturation, providing advanced financial tools for both risk management and speculation.