Binance to Delist APTUSD and OPUSD Perpetual Contracts on March 25
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has announced it will delist APTUSD and OPUSD-margined perpetual contracts on March 25, 2026. The decision, communicated through the exchange’s official announcement channel, will affect all open positions on these trading pairs .
Delisting Details and Timeline
According to Binance’s official announcement, the delisting will take effect at 09:00 UTC on March 25, 2026. The exchange will automatically close all open positions on the APTUSD and OPUSD perpetual contracts and settle them at the average price index at the time of delisting .
Binance has advised users holding positions in these contracts to close them prior to the scheduled delisting time to avoid automatic settlement. The exchange noted that no further positions can be opened after the delisting time, and any remaining open positions will be subject to forced closure .
It is important to note that only the USD-margined perpetual contracts for these tokens are being removed. USDT-margined perpetual contracts for Aptos (APT) and Optimism (OP) will remain available for trading on the platform .
Reasons Behind the Delisting
While Binance did not provide specific reasoning in the brief announcement, industry analysts point to several likely factors. The primary driver appears to be low liquidity and insufficient trading volume in these specific contract pairs. USD-margined perpetual contracts typically see less trading activity compared to their USDT-margined counterparts, which dominate the exchange’s derivatives volume .
Additionally, Binance regularly conducts reviews of its listed products to ensure they meet the exchange’s standards for liquidity, trading activity, and user demand. Delistings of underperforming trading pairs are a routine part of maintaining a healthy and efficient trading environment .
Impact on APT and OP Markets
The delisting of these perpetual contracts is expected to have a limited impact on the broader Aptos (APT) and Optimism (OP) markets. Since USDT-margined perpetuals for both tokens remain active, traders still have access to leveraged derivative positions on these assets. However, users who specifically preferred USD-margined products will need to transition to USDT-margined alternatives or use spot markets .
APT and OP are both layer-1 and layer-2 blockchain projects, respectively, with active ecosystems. Aptos is a layer-1 blockchain built on the Move programming language, while Optimism is a leading Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution. Both tokens have maintained significant market capitalization and trading activity on other pairs .
In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, APT and OP spot prices showed minimal volatility, suggesting the market had already priced in the likelihood of such a move or viewed it as a routine operational update .
Historical Context: Binance Delistings
This is not the first time Binance has removed perpetual contract pairs. The exchange routinely conducts delistings based on periodic reviews of its derivatives offerings. Previous delistings have targeted pairs with low liquidity or as part of broader product rationalization efforts .
Binance’s USD-margined perpetual contract segment has seen reduced focus in recent months as the exchange continues to prioritize USDT-margined products, which account for the vast majority of its derivatives trading volume .
What Traders Should Do
Users with open positions in APTUSD or OPUSD perpetual contracts are advised to:
1. Close positions manually before the March 25, 09:00 UTC deadline to maintain control over execution price and timing
2. Consider transitioning to USDT-margined perpetuals for APT and OP if leveraged exposure is desired
3. Review margin and collateral requirements if holding other positions that may be affected by the delisting
4. Monitor Binance announcements for any updates or changes to the delisting schedule
For traders who do not close their positions before the deadline, Binance will execute automatic settlement at the average price index, which may result in less favorable execution compared to manual closure .
Sources: Binance Announcement, CoinDesk, The Block, TradingView, Binance Official Blog.
Disclaimer: This content is for market information purposes only and is not investment advice. Cryptocurrency derivatives trading involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Users should carefully review Binance’s official announcements for complete details.
