Gate.io’s Futures Points System ties futures trading activity to a growing suite of monetary and non-monetary benefits, seeking to convert short-term volume into sustained platform engagement.
The program accrues points based on futures trading participation across contract types such as USDT perpetual, BTC perpetual and USDT delivery. Gate.io sets the conversion explicitly: 1 point = 1 USDT in trading-fee offset. Points are also redeemable for position vouchers and periodic USDT trial rewards that reduce upfront capital exposure for strategy testing.
Gate.io has run regular airdrop campaigns and tutorial-driven incentives to onboard newer traders and to nudge experienced users toward sustained activity. Beyond monetary redemptions, the scheme includes rewards that appeal to a broader demographic—examples cited include consumer electronics—which diversify motivation to accumulate points.
For users, the practical effect is twofold: lower effective trading costs for active futures traders, and the option to experiment with limited capital through vouchers and trial funds. For professional traders, the incentive is a predictable reduction in execution cost; for newer participants, the program lowers the barrier to entry.
The initiative matters because it links a clear economic incentive—1 point redeemable for 1 USDT in trading fee reduction—to broader ecosystem privileges, from trial USDT rewards and position vouchers to physical items and community features. That combination aims to deepen retention and liquidity without relying solely on fee discounts.
Ecosystem privileges, market effects and risk controls
Gate.io positions the points system as part of a strategic shift toward ecosystem building. The program is presented as an instrument to maintain liquidity and market depth, which the exchange links to an improved spot-market position—reported at 6,04% market share with more than $160 billion in monthly spot volume.
Based on Gate.io posts and industry newsletters, the exchange has emphasized educational content and product features, such as trade sharing, to convert point earners into long-term users.
The platform enforces position-size limits, usage conditions for position vouchers (for example, requiring no open positions or orders in the same market and a sufficient available balance) and the ability to adjust funding rate limits during extreme volatility.
Investors and market participants will watch how Gate.io converts accumulated points into deeper utility. For traders, the immediate calculation is straightforward: points reduce trading costs today; for the platform, the longer test is whether those reduced costs translate into durable engagement, tighter spreads and measurable improvements to market quality.
