BITCOIN FUTURES: Here’s what you need to know...Everything about bitcoin is controversial.

Published: Dec 9, 2017 12:30 p.m. ET

Bitcoin futures make their debut on Sunday, and like everything else surrounding cryptocurrencies, they are the subject of fierce debate.

Bitcoin Cryptocurrency Futures Trading

Digital currency mavens are convinced the advent of an exchange-traded product will transform bitcoin, providing a venue for professional traders and institutional investors to enter and legitimize the market. Critics, including some within the futures industry, argue that the contracts are premature and, in a worst-case scenario, present a systemic danger given the underlying volatility of the digital currency market.

Here are a few things investors need to know:

Futures basics

Let’s start with the basics.

Cboe Global Markets Inc. CBOE, +0.87%  will launch its bitcoin futures contract, trading with the symbol XBT, at 6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, while rival CME Group Inc.CME, +0.49%  plans to launch its contract on Dec. 18. more