Wallet in Telegram has rolled out perpetual futures trading to its more than 150 million users through a new integration with Ethereum-based decentralized exchange Lighter.

The feature allows users to open leveraged long and short positions on more than 50 assets — including bitcoin, ether, oil, gold, equities, and ETFs — without leaving Telegram, using an integrated custodial crypto wallet.

In an X announcement, the Wallet in Telegram team said trades can be executed with up to 50x leverage, bringing a tool once largely confined to professional trading platforms into a consumer-facing interface.

The Open Platform, which develops Wallet in Telegram, built the infrastructure to directly integrate Lighter’s decentralized orderbook into the messaging app, according to a press release.

Rather than competing for experienced traders on standalone exchanges, Wallet is targeting a broader audience that may not have previously used derivatives platforms. Telegram’s built-in wallet has amassed tens of millions of users, many of whom were onboarded through mini-app ecosystems and token incentives.

"Perpetual trading has traditionally required complex interfaces and dedicated platforms," said Andrew Rogozov, CEO of The Open Platform. "Embedding it directly into Wallet simplifies access and lowers the barrier for users who already hold and transfer crypto inside Telegram."

The feature is not yet universally available, as access is limited to jurisdictions such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The initial focus is on emerging markets where traditional brokerage infrastructure is more limited.

Elsewhere, Bitget Wallet has moved into the same lane, adding Hyperliquid-powered markets to offer 24/7 trading in commodities, equities, and other real-world assets onchain.

Perpetual futures are contracts that allow traders to speculate on price movements without expiry. These trading vehicles have become a dominant instrument in crypto derivatives. Volumes surged sharply in 2025, and monthly activity consistently exceeded $1 trillion, and total annual volume approached $8 trillion, according to The Block’s data.

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Lighter has claimed market share in that growing sector. Data from The Block shows the platform has climbed into the top tier of decentralized perpetual exchanges by trading volume, ranking fourth among competitors.

In recent months, Lighter has expanded beyond its core derivatives offering, adding spot trading and introducing new products such as 24/5 equity perpetuals. It was also last reported to have raised $68 million at a $1.5 billion valuation.