OKX Expands BTC Futures Offerings with New Bi-Monthly and Monthly Contract Options

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The cryptocurrency derivatives market continues to evolve, and OKX is at the forefront by enhancing its futures product lineup. To improve market liquidity and offer traders greater flexibility, OKX has announced the introduction of new contract durations for BTC/USDT- and BTC/USD-margined futures. Starting November 17, 2023, users will gain access to monthly and bi-monthly futures contracts, expanding the range of available trading instruments.

This strategic update introduces six distinct contract durations: weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, and bi-quarterly—providing traders with more tools to align their strategies with specific market cycles and volatility expectations.

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Enhanced Contract Durations for Greater Flexibility

Previously, OKX supported only four contract durations: weekly, bi-weekly, quarterly, and bi-quarterly. With this upgrade, BTC/USDT and BTC/USD futures now include monthly and bi-monthly options, giving traders more control over their exposure timelines.

The new structure allows for:

These additions empower both short-term speculators and long-term hedgers to fine-tune their positions with precision.

Initial Contract Listings Post-Adjustment

Following the implementation on November 17, 2023, OKX will launch new futures contracts with the following expiration dates:

This phased rollout ensures a smooth transition while maintaining consistent market depth across all tenors.

Clearer Naming Convention Improves Usability

To reduce confusion and enhance clarity, OKX is updating its futures contract naming format. All BTC/USDT and BTC/USD futures will now follow a standardized pattern: crypto pair-DDMMMYY.

For example:

This change makes it easier for traders to identify expiration dates at a glance, especially when managing multiple open positions or analyzing charts.

Note: API users should rely on the expTime field from the instruments endpoint to determine contract delivery times. The alias field will no longer reflect accurate expiration logic under the new system.

Contract Generation Rules by Asset Type

Not all futures contracts follow the same listing rules. The availability of durations depends on the underlying asset pair:

For BTC/USDT and BTC/USD Futures

These major pairs support all six durations:

New contracts are listed at 8:00 am UTC. However, if a proposed expiration date overlaps with an existing contract, no new contract will be created. For instance, if a monthly contract already expires on December 29, a bi-weekly contract set for the same day will not be listed.

For Non-BTC/USDT and Non-BTC/USD Futures

These pairs continue to support only four durations:

They follow similar listing logic but without monthly or bi-monthly options.

This tiered approach ensures that high-demand BTC pairs receive enhanced product depth while maintaining simplicity for less-traded assets.

👉 Access next-generation futures trading with flexible durations on OKX.

Why These Changes Matter for Traders

The addition of monthly and bi-monthly futures addresses a growing need in the crypto derivatives space: better alignment with macroeconomic cycles and institutional trading rhythms.

Monthly contracts allow traders to:

Bi-monthly contracts (like the January 26 and June 28 expiries) offer intermediate-term exposure between quarterly and monthly options—ideal for tactical plays ahead of anticipated market events such as halvings, Fed decisions, or major protocol upgrades.

Moreover, the clearer naming convention reduces cognitive load during fast-moving markets, helping traders make faster, more informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When will the new contract durations be available?
A: The updated futures offerings will go live at 8:00 am UTC on November 17, 2023. New contracts with monthly and bi-monthly expiries will be generated at that time.

Q: Will my existing positions be affected by this change?
A: No. Your current open positions will settle as normal. Only newly listed contracts after November 17 will follow the updated duration and naming rules.

Q: How do I know when a new contract is listed?
A: New contracts are listed at 8:00 am UTC. You can check the expiration schedule based on the updated rules—monthly on the last Friday of each month, bi-monthly on the third-to-last Friday of alternate months.

Q: Why did OKX introduce bi-monthly instead of semi-annual contracts?
A: Bi-monthly contracts (every two months) provide more frequent intermediate-term options than semi-annual ones. This allows for greater strategic flexibility without waiting six months between expiries.

Q: Are these changes applied to all trading pairs?
A: No. Only BTC/USDT and BTC/USD-margined futures receive monthly and bi-monthly options. Other pairs retain weekly, bi-weekly, quarterly, and bi-quarterly durations.

Q: Does this affect API integration?
A: Yes. API users must use the expTime field—not the alias field—to determine contract expiration times. Relying on alias may lead to incorrect interpretations under the new naming system.

Final Notes

OKX’s expansion of BTC futures durations reflects its commitment to delivering a sophisticated, user-centric trading experience. By introducing monthly and bi-monthly contracts, along with a cleaner naming standard, OKX enables traders to execute more nuanced strategies with confidence.

Whether you're a day trader leveraging weekly rolls or an institutional player hedging over multi-month horizons, these updates provide the tools needed to thrive in today’s dynamic crypto markets.

👉 Start trading advanced BTC futures with optimized durations on OKX today.