Catenaa, Monday, February 09, 2026-U.S.-based NinjaTrader has launched its futures trading platform in Europe, beginning with the Netherlands and Germany, as demand for exchange-traded derivatives grows among retail investors.
The Chicago-headquartered firm said it will offer European clients access to listed futures contracts through Payward Europe Digital Solutions Limited, a regulated investment firm operating under the EU’s MiFID framework.
NinjaTrader plans to expand into additional EU markets, including France and Italy, later this year.
The move responds to growing European preference for exchange-traded products over over-the-counter derivatives such as CFDs, which have faced tighter regulations.
NinjaTrader’s platform provides charting, order-flow tools, execution capabilities, and a simulated trading sandbox aimed at helping retail traders transition into listed futures markets that have historically been less accessible in Europe.
Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi emphasized that retail futures access is increasingly a global expectation, noting that transparent, exchange-listed markets are now in demand worldwide.
The launch builds on Kraken’s 2025 acquisition of NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, which enabled the exchange to expand its presence in regulated derivatives markets.
Following the acquisition, Kraken also enhanced its EU derivatives offering under MiFID, including support for crypto collateral.
The expansion coincides with Kraken-sponsored KRAKacquisition Corp completing a $345 million upsized IPO, signaling continued strategic moves into regulated public markets.
NinjaTrader’s European rollout reflects growing investor interest in standardized, regulated futures trading and aligns with broader efforts to make retail access to listed derivatives a global standard.
