How is a derivatives trading platform different from a regular crypto exchange?

[Ameliasebas]

A derivatives trading platform differs from a regular crypto exchange mainly in the type of financial products it supports. While a traditional exchange focuses on spot trading (buying and selling assets at current market prices), a derivatives platform enables trading of contracts such as futures, options, and perpetual swaps, where users speculate on the asset’s future value rather than owning it directly.
From a derivatives trading platform development perspective, the architecture needs to support advanced features like:

• Margin & leverage trading systems
  
  
• Risk management and liquidation engines
  
  
• High-speed order matching for complex contracts
  
  
• Collateral management and real-time PnL tracking
  

Additionally, compliance with regulations, secure custody solutions, and integration of liquidity providers play a more critical role compared to standard exchanges.