The cryptocurrency derivatives market continues to evolve, offering traders more flexibility and strategic opportunities. In a significant move to enhance trading precision and market liquidity, OKX has expanded its ETH coin-margined delivery contract offerings. Starting June 21, 2024, at 16:00 UTC+8, ETHUSD futures now feature six expiry dates instead of the previous four—introducing additional monthly contracts to complement existing weekly and quarterly options.
This structural upgrade allows traders to better align their positions with market expectations, whether they're pursuing short-term volatility plays or longer-term macro strategies.
Enhanced Expiry Structure for Greater Flexibility
Previously, ETHUSD delivery contracts followed a standard cycle: current week, next week, current quarter, and next quarter. Now, OKX introduces monthly expiries, increasing the total available contract maturities to six:
- Current week
- Next week
- Current month
- Next month
- Current quarter
- Next quarter
This refined structure mirrors institutional-grade derivatives markets, where granular expiry options empower traders to fine-tune hedging strategies and speculative positions.
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For ETHUSD specifically, after the June 21, 2024, 16:00 (UTC+8) settlement, the following contracts were generated and listed:
- ETHUSD – June 28, 2024 (weekly)
- ETHUSD – July 5, 2024 (weekly)
- ETHUSD – July 26, 2024 (monthly)
- ETHUSD – August 30, 2024 (quarterly)
- ETHUSD – September 27, 2024 (quarterly)
- ETHUSD – December 27, 2024 (quarterly)
These maturities reflect a hybrid model combining frequent short-term options with mid- and long-term horizons—ideal for adapting to evolving on-chain activity, macroeconomic shifts, and seasonal volatility trends in the Ethereum ecosystem.
How Contract Generation Works
OKX employs an automated system to maintain optimal market depth and avoid redundant listings. New contracts are generated every Friday at 16:00 UTC+8, but only if they don’t duplicate existing ones.
For Major Contracts (BTCUSDT, BTCUSD, ETHUSD)
Available Expiry Types:
- Weekly (current and next)
- Monthly (current and next)
- Quarterly (current and next: March, June, September, December)
Expiry Times:
- Weekly: Every Friday at 16:00 UTC+8
- Monthly: Last Friday of the month at 16:00 UTC+8
- Quarterly: Last Friday of Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 at 16:00 UTC+8
Listing Schedule:
- Next-week contracts: Listed every Friday
- Next-month contracts: Listed on the third-to-last Friday of each month
- Next-quarter contracts: Listed on the third-to-last Friday of January, April, July, and October
Importantly, no duplicate contracts are created. If the upcoming next-week expiry coincides with a monthly or quarterly date already live on the platform, that specific contract will not be relisted.
For Non-Major Contracts
Smaller pairs follow a simpler framework:
- Only current week, next week, current quarter, and next quarter are supported
- No monthly options available
- Same expiry times as above
This tiered approach ensures high-liquidity assets like ETH receive enhanced product support while maintaining efficiency across less-traded instruments.
Why This Update Matters for Traders
The expansion of ETHUSD delivery contracts is more than just a logistical change—it’s a strategic upgrade designed to meet growing demand for precision in crypto derivatives trading.
✅ Improved Hedging Accuracy
With monthly expiries now available, investors holding ETH for specific time-bound events (e.g., protocol upgrades, staking rewards cycles, or macroeconomic data releases) can hedge exposure more accurately without overextending into distant quarters.
✅ More Tactical Trading Opportunities
Traders can now execute calendar spreads between weekly, monthly, and quarterly contracts—enabling sophisticated arbitrage and volatility strategies previously limited by sparse expiry intervals.
✅ Closer Alignment with Traditional Finance
As Ethereum continues gaining traction as a macro asset, having a dense expiry curve brings its derivatives market closer to traditional financial instruments like stock index futures—where multiple maturities per month are standard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When did the new ETHUSD contract structure go live?
A: The updated expiry model launched on June 21, 2024, at 16:00 UTC+8, following the settlement of the previous weekly contract.
Q: Are all ETH futures now available with monthly expiries?
A: Yes—ETHUSD coin-margined delivery contracts now include both current and next-month expiries in addition to weekly and quarterly options. This applies only to major pairs; smaller ETH-based contracts do not yet support monthly maturities.
Q: How often are new contracts listed?
A: New contracts are automatically listed every Friday at 16:00 UTC+8, provided there isn’t an existing contract with the same expiry date.
Q: Can I roll my position forward under this new system?
A: Absolutely. With tighter expiry spacing, rolling positions from weekly to monthly or monthly to quarterly has become smoother and more cost-efficient due to increased market depth and tighter spreads.
Q: What happens if two expiry dates overlap?
A: To prevent redundancy, OKX’s system will skip listing a new contract if its expiry matches an existing one. For example, if the next-week expiry falls on the same day as a monthly expiry already listed, no separate next-week contract will be created.
Q: Is margin type affected by this update?
A: No. This change only affects expiry frequency and availability. The margin type—coin-margined in this case—remains unchanged. You continue to post ETH as collateral for these contracts.
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Final Thoughts
OKX's expansion of ETHUSD delivery contracts marks a meaningful step toward building a more mature and responsive derivatives ecosystem. By adding monthly expiries and maintaining intelligent listing logic, the platform empowers traders with greater control over timing, risk exposure, and strategic execution.
Whether you're a short-term speculator capitalizing on weekly volatility or a long-term investor managing portfolio risk across quarters, this enhancement delivers tangible value.
As Ethereum's role in decentralized finance and digital asset infrastructure grows, so too must the tools available to trade it efficiently. With six active expiry dates now available for ETH coin-margined contracts, OKX reinforces its position as a leader in innovative crypto derivatives design.
👉 Start trading ETH futures with optimized expiry choices today