Deribit’s identity is simple: derivatives first, retail fluff last. If you’re looking for meme-coin roulette, this isn’t the place. If you want to trade BTC/ETH volatility with professional-grade instruments—options chains, futures curves, perpetuals, spreads, and block execution—Deribit is engineered for that workflow.
In 2026, Deribit also looks more “grown up” operationally: it’s run through Deribit FZE in Dubai and presented as a VARA-regulated Virtual Asset Service Provider. That regulatory posture shows up immediately in the user journey: verification is not optional if you want to fund an account and trade.
Quick platform snapshot
| Category | Deribit at a glance |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | John Jansen, Marius Jansen |
| Current CEO | Luuk Strijers |
| Operator / regulation | Deribit FZE (Dubai), regulated by VARA as a VASP for exchange activities |
| What it is | Crypto derivatives exchange focused on options, futures, and perpetuals (plus spot) |
| Core markets | BTC & ETH options; futures and perpetuals; USDC-settled products; DVOL futures |
| Key pro tools | Spreads/combos, block trading, subaccounts, institutional broker access, API (REST/WebSocket) |
| Spot fees | 0% maker / 0% taker |
| Perps & futures fees (headline) | USDC perps/futures: 0% maker / 0.05% taker; DVOL futures: 0% maker / 0.05% taker |
| KYC/AML | Mandatory before deposits and trading (individual and corporate) |
| Restricted jurisdictions | Long list including the U.S., Canada, U.K. retail, Japan, Russia (with exemptions), and multiple sanctioned regions (details below) |
1) Background: history, founders, leadership
Deribit was founded in 2016 by John Jansen and Marius Jansen. In 2026 the exchange lists Luuk Strijers as CEO.
Deribit’s public positioning is heavily product-driven: market structure, fee logic, execution tools, and risk controls matter more here than marketing narratives.
2) Licensing and regulation (what Deribit is, legally)
Deribit operates as Deribit FZE, incorporated in Dubai and regulated by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) as a Virtual Asset Service Provider for exchange activities (as described in its published governance/regulation materials). In practice, this means clearer rules around onboarding, restricted jurisdictions, and compliance monitoring—especially compared to “offshore-only” derivatives venues.
3) Full list of Deribit services and products (complete catalog)
A) Options (Deribit’s flagship)
- BTC and ETH options markets (including daily/weekly style expiries as offered)
- Options pricing and margining designed for active volatility trading
- Option combo execution with fee discounts on true multi-leg structures (buy + sell legs)
B) Futures and perpetuals
- Perpetual contracts (the always-on leverage workhorse)
- Dated futures (including weekly futures where offered)
- USDC-settled perpetuals and futures for selected underlyings
- DVOL futures (volatility index-style futures product line)
C) Spot trading
- Spot markets exist primarily as a utility layer for collateral management and currency conversion
- Spot trading fees are published as 0% for both maker and taker
D) Spreads / combos (execution tools)
- Futures spreads (a.k.a. futures combos) with fee logic that discounts the cheaper leg for takers
- Options combos with fee discounts when the structure contains both buys and sells
E) Block trading (institutional execution)
- Off-orderbook style execution method designed for large orders
- Block trades have their own published fee schedule, independent of maker/taker
F) Subaccounts
- Multiple subaccounts under one main account
- Subaccounts are isolated: they do not share margin/portfolios with the main account
- Subaccounts do not require separate verification
G) Order types and trading controls
Deribit supports professional order functionality, including:
- Stop-market style triggers (with trigger price reference selection such as mark/index/last)
- Advanced order attributes (e.g., iceberg-style execution logic)
- Conditional/bracket-style workflows (e.g., primary order with attached stop loss / take profit behavior)
H) API and automation
- Production-grade API documentation (REST + WebSocket)
- Built for algorithmic trading, market data, order management, and low-latency execution patterns
I) Brokers / institutional access
- Broker and prime-broker style access pathways (as described in Deribit’s broker materials)
J) Mobile trading
- Official mobile apps for trading on the go (futures, options, and spot access in app form)
4) Fees and costs (exact numbers that matter)
Deribit fees are not “one number.” They’re instrument-specific, and the exchange publishes detailed fee logic.
A) Spot fees
- Spot: 0% maker / 0% taker
B) USDC perpetuals & futures (headline)
- 0.00% maker
- 0.05% taker
C) DVOL futures
- 0.00% maker
- 0.05% taker
D) Options trading fees (BTC & ETH options)
Options fees are charged as a fixed rate per contract but capped relative to the option price:
- 0.03% of the underlying per option contract
- Capped at 12.5% of the option’s price
- Fee formula style: the fee is the minimum of (fixed underlying-based fee) and (12.5% of option price), multiplied by contract amount
- Both maker and taker pay options fees (this is a major difference vs classic maker/taker models)
E) USDC linear options (BTC/ETH and others)
- Fee is based on 0.03% of the index price of the underlying
- Also capped at 12.5% of the option’s price
- Contract-size logic applies for some underlyings
F) Block trade fees
Block trades use a separate fee model:
- Futures & perpetuals (block): 0.025%
- Options (block): 0.03%
Option combo fee discounts can apply to qualifying multi-leg blocks.
G) Delivery fees (settlement at expiry)
Certain expiries incur an additional delivery fee (with specific exemptions):
- BTC/ETH weekly futures: 0%
- BTC/ETH futures: 0.025%
- USDC-settled BTC/ETH futures: 0.025%
- DVOL futures: 0.05%
- BTC/ETH daily options: 0%
- BTC/ETH options: 0.015% (and it is constrained so it can’t exceed 12.5% of option value)
H) Collateral fees (cross collateral negative balances)
When cross collateral is enabled and a settlement currency balance goes negative while the account remains solvent overall:
- A collateral fee is charged while that currency remains negative
- Default rate: 0.05% per day (charged based on how long the negative equity is held)
5) KYC and AML (what’s required)
Deribit’s stance is direct:
- Individual clients must complete KYC before they can make deposits and start trading.
- Corporate clients must complete KYC before they can make deposits and start trading.
Compliance can include ongoing due diligence, and Deribit publishes guidance around source of funds/wealth documentation where required by its CDD obligations.
6) Availability and restricted jurisdictions (published list)
Deribit publishes a detailed restricted jurisdictions list. Access and use are not allowed if you are located in, established in, or a resident of the following (highlights include):
- United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa
- Canada
- United Kingdom (retail investors not allowed)
- Japan
- United Arab Emirates (retail investors may only trade spot products)
- Panama (retail investors may only trade spot products)
- Russian Federation (with an exemption for nationals from the EEA and Switzerland)
- Belarus (with an exemption for nationals from the EEA and Switzerland)
- Sanctioned/high-risk jurisdictions listed by Deribit such as Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen
- Ukraine — sanctioned regions of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk
- Plus additional listed jurisdictions including Central African Republic and Congo
If you’re building a compliance-facing content section, this is one of the most concrete and explicit restricted lists in crypto derivatives.
Who Deribit is best for
- Traders focused on BTC/ETH options and volatility strategies
- Perp/futures traders who want strong execution tools and derivatives-first UX
- Institutions needing block execution, subaccount structure, and API access
- Users who accept that KYC is mandatory and jurisdiction rules are strict
FAQ
- What is Deribit best known for?
Deribit is best known for crypto options (especially BTC and ETH), plus futures and perpetuals. - Who founded Deribit?
Deribit was founded in 2016 by John Jansen and Marius Jansen. - Who is Deribit’s CEO in 2026?
Deribit lists Luuk Strijers as CEO. - Is Deribit regulated?
Deribit operates as Deribit FZE in Dubai and presents itself as a VARA-regulated Virtual Asset Service Provider for exchange activities. - Does Deribit require KYC?
Yes. Deribit states individuals and corporate clients must complete KYC before deposits and trading. - What are Deribit’s spot trading fees?
Deribit publishes 0% maker / 0% taker for spot trades. - What are the main futures/perps fees?
For USDC perpetuals & futures, Deribit publishes 0.00% maker / 0.05% taker. DVOL futures are also 0.00% maker / 0.05% taker. - How do options fees work?
Options fees are underlying-based per contract and capped at 12.5% of the option price. Both maker and taker pay options fees. - Are there extra fees at expiry?
Yes, Deribit charges delivery fees for certain expiries (with exemptions like daily options and weekly futures), and rates vary by product. - Which countries are restricted?
Deribit publishes a long restricted list including the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K. retail, multiple sanctioned jurisdictions, and certain sanctioned regions of Ukraine, plus other listed territories.