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Deribit, a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, and crypto options trading platform SignalPlus have concluded the 2025 Deribit x SignalPlus Trading Competition (Space Edition), according to a Jan. 5 announcement.
The competition generated over $23 billion in cumulative notional trading volume in 2025, highlighting strong participation from both institutional and retail traders in the crypto derivatives market.
Data shared by Deribit and SignalPlus shows steady growth over time, with the competition producing $1 billion in trading volume in November 2023, $8 billion during Winter 2024, and surpassing $23 billion over the past year.
The competition saw a nearly threefold year-over-year (YoY) increase in trading volume despite challenging market conditions, which underscores the growing importance of options as a critical trading tool.
Related: Deribit CEO forecasts more crypto market volatility
High-profile prizes, including Tesla vehicles and Unitree robots, played a key role in driving user participation throughout the competition.
Organizers introduced more than 10 gameplay formats, including live perpetual “quick battles” and deposit-based missions, aimed at engaging both experienced traders and newer participants.
The 2025 Space Edition registered record participation, with more than 586 active traders taking part. Daily active users (DAU) reached a peak of 391, while the event also attracted $79 million in new competition-specific deposits.
Deribit CEO Luuk Strijers said, “I think what makes this different is the level of effort from both the team and the entire community. The feedback has been very positive. Strategy orders, RFQs, and the willingness to explore untried and untested approaches to profitability within this community have been exceptionally strong.”
“From a P&L perspective, many participants performed well despite the decline in the underlying market.”
SignalPlus co-founder and CEO Chris Yu emphasized the importance of options trading in volatile conditions.
“We congratulate all participants on a highly successful competition,” Yu said. “Options play a critical role in helping traders manage risk and navigate volatility with more controlled downside exposure, which is essential for long-term participation in crypto markets.”
Deribit’s head of retail, Sidrah Fariq, said, “We have done these competitions with SignalPlus during different market conditions since 2023 and have been successful each time.”
“Our participants and community resonate strongly with the many challenges that we set up for them. It’s incredible how they rise to the situation and deliver.”
Deribit and SignalPlus said they plan to expand their collaboration in 2026, with a continued focus on trading competitions, options education, and automated strategy development, as demand for crypto derivatives continues to grow.
In August 2025, Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), the largest crypto trading exchange in the U.S., acquired Deribit for roughly $2.9 billion.
Related: Deribit and SignalPlus Launch $200,000 Winter Trading Competition
This story was originally published by TheStreet on Jan 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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