What Is a Delivery Notice Period?
A delivery notice period is the contract-defined window during which the seller of a physically settled futures contract can notify the clearing system that it intends to make delivery of the underlying asset.
The period generally begins on the contract’s first notice day and ends on its last notice day.
A delivery notice identifies an open short futures position that will be settled through delivery instead of being closed through an offsetting trade.
The clearing organization receives the seller’s notice and assigns the corresponding delivery obligation to an eligible holder of an open long position.
The CFTC futures glossary defines a delivery notice as the seller’s written notice of an intention to deliver against an open short futures position on a particular date.
The delivery notice period is most relevant to physically delivered futures rather than cash-settled futures or perpetual contracts.
In cryptocurrency markets, the delivered asset may be a specified quantity of a digital asset transferred according to the contract’s custody, wallet, settlement, and clearing rules.
The delivery notice period is not automatically the same as the delivery month, last trading day, expiration date, settlement date, or final delivery day.
Every futures contract can define these dates differently, so traders must read the exact contract specifications.
Why Does the Delivery Notice Period Exist?
A physically settled futures contract creates a potential obligation to transfer the underlying asset when the contract reaches maturity.
The delivery notice process allows the short position holder to formally begin that transfer under standardized rules.
It also allows the clearing organization to identify the long position that must accept delivery.
The notice period gives clearing members, custodians, traders, and settlement systems time to coordinate the required assets, funds, records, and operational steps.
Without a structured process, buyers and sellers could disagree about when delivery should occur, what must be delivered, and how payment should be completed.
The notice system reduces this uncertainty by connecting delivery to dates and procedures published in the futures contract’s rules.
For crypto futures, the process may also need to address wallet compatibility, blockchain confirmations, custody arrangements, network fees, forks, asset eligibility, and transfer interruptions.
What Is a Delivery Notice?
A delivery notice is a formal declaration from the seller that it intends to satisfy an open short futures position through the contract’s delivery process.
The notice is normally submitted through the seller’s clearing member rather than sent directly to an unknown long trader.
The clearing organization processes the notice and assigns the corresponding obligation under its rules.
The notice may identify the contract month, quantity, intended delivery date, approved asset, delivery location, account, or settlement instructions.
For a digital asset contract, it may also refer to approved custodial accounts or blockchain-based delivery procedures.
The notice itself is not necessarily the asset or legal instrument that completes delivery.
The CFTC distinguishes a delivery notice from a delivery instrument that transfers title or represents the deliverable commodity.
In a cryptocurrency delivery system, the final transfer may occur through wallet movement, custodial book entry, or another approved mechanism.
Who Issues the Delivery Notice?
The holder of an eligible open short futures position initiates the delivery process.
The short trader is the contractual seller because the position represents an obligation to provide the underlying asset or approved delivery instrument.
The trader generally communicates its delivery intention through its futures intermediary or clearing member.
The clearing member verifies that the seller can meet the contract’s requirements and submits the notice to the clearing organization.
A retail trader may not be permitted or operationally equipped to make delivery even when the contract is physically settled.
An intermediary may therefore require the trader to close or roll the position before the notice period begins.
These intermediary deadlines can occur earlier than the official contract deadline.
Who Receives the Delivery Notice?
The clearing organization receives the delivery notice and assigns it to a clearing member holding eligible open long positions.
The clearing member then allocates the delivery obligation to a customer or proprietary account according to applicable rules.
The long position holder receiving the assignment must normally accept delivery and provide the required payment or settlement asset.
The assignment process may use position age, random selection, proportional allocation, or another published method.
A long trader cannot assume that another market participant will be selected instead.
Remaining long during the notice period may create a real delivery obligation even when the trader originally intended only to speculate on price.
What Is First Notice Day?
First notice day is the first day on which a notice of intent to deliver may be received for an expiring futures contract.
The official futures terminology guide states that first notice day varies by commodity and contract rules.
A trader holding a long position on or after first notice day may become eligible to receive a delivery assignment.
The last trading day may occur before, on, or after first notice day depending on the contract.
Traders should therefore never use expiration date as a substitute for checking first notice day.
An intermediary may impose a position-closing deadline one or more business days before first notice day.
This earlier deadline helps prevent customers who cannot take delivery from entering the assignment process.
What Is Last Notice Day?
Last notice day is the final day on which a seller can issue a notice of intent to deliver under the futures contract.
It marks the end of the formal notice window rather than necessarily the end of all delivery activity.
A delivery initiated on the last notice day may be completed on a later settlement or delivery date.
The long position assigned that notice remains responsible for meeting the contract’s payment and acceptance requirements.
The CFTC defines last notice day as the final day on which delivery notices for futures contracts may be issued.
A trader should verify whether the applicable deadline is based on local time, clearing-system time, or another specified time zone.
What Is Notice Day?
A notice day is any day during the permitted period on which a delivery notice can be issued.
First notice day is the opening day of that window, while last notice day is the closing day.
Some contracts permit notices only on business days.
Others may define special deadlines around holidays, market closures, or unexpected operational events.
A notice submitted after the daily cutoff may be treated as having been submitted on the next eligible day.
Crypto markets may trade continuously, but delivery administration can still rely on defined business days and processing hours.
Delivery Notice Period Versus Delivery Period
The delivery notice period is the window for initiating delivery through a formal notice.
The delivery period is the window during which the underlying asset or delivery instrument can actually be transferred.
These periods may overlap, but they are not necessarily identical.
A seller may issue a notice on one day and complete delivery several business days later.
The contract rules determine the delay between notice, assignment, payment, and final delivery.
In a crypto contract, the delivery period may include time for custody movements, blockchain transfers, confirmations, and reconciliation.
Delivery Notice Period Versus Delivery Month
The delivery month is the named contract month during which a futures contract matures or begins its settlement process.
A contract described as a September future usually has a maturity or settlement relationship with September.
The complete notice period may begin before the first calendar day of the delivery month or extend within it.
The delivery month alone does not tell a trader the first notice day, last trading day, or final settlement date.
Contract calendars and specifications must be checked separately.
Delivery Notice Period Versus Last Trading Day
The last trading day is the final day on which the expiring futures contract can normally be traded.
The delivery notice period determines when delivery notices can be issued.
A physically delivered contract may enter its notice period while trading is still available.
Another contract may stop trading before its delivery process is completed.
A trader can therefore face delivery assignment before the date commonly described as expiration.
Closing a position after receiving an assignment may not automatically cancel the existing delivery obligation.
Delivery Notice Period Versus Expiration Date
Expiration is the point at which a futures or options contract reaches the end of its trading or contractual life under its rules.
The notice process may begin before expiration and continue according to a separate schedule.
Some financial contracts use one final cash settlement at expiration and have no delivery notice period.
Physically settled contracts require more dates because the system must coordinate an actual asset transfer.
Users should review the contract calendar rather than assuming that every important event happens on expiration day.
Delivery Notice Period Versus Settlement Date
The settlement date is the date on which the contract’s required payment or asset transfer is completed.
A delivery notice normally begins the process before the final settlement date.
The short must prepare the deliverable asset, while the long must prepare the payment or settlement consideration.
The clearing organization manages the exchange according to its delivery rules.
A settlement failure can create default procedures, penalties, forced transactions, or other consequences.
Delivery Notice Period Versus Cash Settlement
Cash-settled futures do not require the underlying cryptocurrency to be transferred to the long trader.
Instead, the contract is closed using a final settlement price and the resulting financial difference is credited or debited.
The CFTC glossary defines final settlement price as the price used to settle a cash-settled futures contract at maturity.
Because no underlying asset must be tendered, a conventional delivery notice period is generally unnecessary.
A cash-settled crypto future may still have a last trading day, valuation period, expiration time, and final settlement date.
These events should not be mislabeled as delivery notices.
Delivery Notice Period Versus Perpetual Contracts
A perpetual contract has no fixed expiration or ordinary delivery date.
It normally remains open until the trader closes the position, the position is liquidated, or another contractual event occurs.
Perpetual contracts commonly use recurring funding payments to help keep their price connected with a spot reference.
The CFTC’s current perpetual-contract policy statement addresses contracts that continue without a fixed expiration.
Because an ordinary perpetual does not mature into scheduled physical delivery, it normally has no delivery notice period.
A product called a perpetual should still be reviewed carefully because its exact legal and settlement structure may vary.
How a Physical Delivery Process Usually Works
The seller first keeps an eligible short position open into the contract’s delivery process.
The seller or its clearing member submits a notice of intent to deliver during the permitted notice period.
The clearing organization validates the notice and assigns it to a clearing member with an eligible long position.
The receiving clearing member identifies the long account responsible for accepting delivery.
The short supplies the approved commodity, digital asset, or delivery instrument.
The long supplies the required payment or settlement asset.
The clearing organization coordinates the exchange and records completion.
The precise number of days and operational steps depend entirely on the contract rules.
How Crypto Delivery Can Occur
A physically settled crypto futures contract may require a transfer of the underlying digital asset.
The transfer can occur through an approved custodian, a clearing-controlled wallet, a participant account, an internal book entry, or a blockchain transaction.
The contract must identify the eligible digital asset and the units required for delivery.
It should also define how decimal quantities, network fees, and rounding are handled.
Approved wallets or custodial accounts may need to be established before the notice period begins.
The seller must have sufficient deliverable cryptocurrency available and free from conflicting claims.
The buyer must have sufficient funds or settlement assets available to complete payment.
A blockchain transfer may require a specified number of confirmations before the delivery is treated as final.
Wallet Requirements
A crypto delivery process may require participants to use compatible wallet addresses or approved custodial accounts.
An invalid or unsupported address can delay or prevent settlement.
Some systems avoid direct customer wallet delivery and complete transfers through controlled custody accounts.
This approach can reduce address errors but introduces reliance on custodians and internal account records.
Participants should confirm whether they need to submit an address before first notice day.
They should also verify who controls the private keys and whether withdrawals are available after delivery.
No legitimate delivery process requires a trader to disclose a wallet recovery phrase or private key.
Blockchain Confirmation Requirements
A cryptocurrency transaction can be broadcast before it receives sufficient blockchain confirmation.
The contract rules may define how many confirmations are needed before delivery is final.
Confirmation requirements can depend on the digital asset, network conditions, transfer size, and security policy.
A transaction with insufficient confirmation may remain exposed to reorganization or replacement risk.
Network congestion can delay confirmation beyond the expected settlement time.
The delivery framework should explain how delays, fee increases, and stalled transactions are handled.
Forks, Airdrops, and Network Events
A blockchain can experience a fork, upgrade, outage, or other network event during the delivery process.
The contract rules should identify which network and asset qualify for delivery.
They should also explain whether forked assets, airdrops, staking rewards, or similar benefits belong to the seller, buyer, custodian, or clearing system.
A contract may allow the clearing organization to delay settlement or select an alternative procedure during a serious disruption.
Traders should not assume that holding a futures position gives them rights to every blockchain-related benefit associated with the underlying asset.
What Happens to the Short Position?
The short trader makes delivery because the position represents the selling side of the futures contract.
The seller must provide the quantity and form of cryptocurrency specified by the contract.
Submitting the notice normally converts the open short position into an active delivery obligation.
The seller may lose the ability to cancel that obligation through an ordinary offsetting trade after the notice is accepted.
Failure to deliver can result in default action, financial penalties, forced acquisition, account restrictions, or other remedies under the rules.
What Happens to the Long Position?
The long trader assigned a delivery notice becomes responsible for accepting the asset and paying the invoice or settlement amount.
The long must maintain enough available funds and satisfy all custody and account requirements.
The delivered cryptocurrency may be credited to a custodial balance rather than sent directly to a personal wallet.
The long trader should confirm when the asset becomes transferable and whether additional withdrawal procedures apply.
A trader who does not want to receive the asset should normally close or roll the position before the applicable delivery-risk deadline.
How Are Delivery Notices Assigned?
The clearing organization follows an assignment method stated in its rules.
Assignment may be based on the age of open positions, random selection, allocation among clearing members, or another objective method.
The customer generally cannot rely on being overlooked merely because many other long positions remain open.
The assignment process may occur after the daily trading session or after a specified notice cutoff.
A long trader should treat every eligible open position as capable of assignment.
Can a Delivery Notice Be Retendered?
Some futures systems permit a long position holder to retender or transfer a delivery notice under limited conditions.
Retendering generally involves returning the notice to the clearing organization so that it can be reassigned.
This procedure is not available for every contract.
It may require an offsetting transaction, a fee, or compliance with strict deadlines.
A trader should never assume that retendering will provide an easy escape from an unwanted crypto delivery.
The safer approach is to close or roll the position before assignment eligibility begins.
Closing a Position Before the Notice Period
A long trader can normally avoid delivery by selling an equal number of the same futures contracts before the applicable deadline.
A short trader can normally avoid making delivery by buying an equal number of the same contracts.
The offsetting transaction reduces or eliminates the open position.
The position should be closed in the same contract month rather than in a different maturity.
Opening an opposite position in a later month does not automatically close the expiring contract.
The trader should verify that the account shows no remaining position after the transaction.
Rolling a Futures Position
Rolling means closing a position in a near-term contract and opening a similar position in a later contract month.
A long roll generally involves selling the expiring contract and buying a later contract.
A short roll generally involves buying the expiring contract and selling a later contract.
The two contract months can trade at different prices.
The difference between them creates a roll cost or benefit.
A roll should be completed before the trader becomes subject to an unwanted delivery assignment.
Rolling does not remove market risk because the new futures position remains exposed to price changes, leverage, and margin requirements.
An intermediary can impose a deadline earlier than the official first notice day or last trading day.
This policy may apply to customers who are not approved for delivery.
The intermediary may close an expiring position automatically if the customer does not act before the deadline.
Forced closing can occur during poor liquidity and produce an unfavorable execution price.
Customers should review account notices and delivery policies well before the contract enters its final trading period.
The official contract calendar and the intermediary’s operational deadline are both important.
Margin During the Delivery Notice Period
Margin requirements may increase as a physically settled futures contract approaches delivery.
The clearing organization or intermediary may require enough collateral to cover larger price movements, settlement obligations, and operational risks.
A trader who cannot satisfy the higher requirement may have the position reduced or closed.
The CFTC’s cryptocurrency risk guidance warns that leverage amplifies gains and losses in futures positions.
Delivery readiness requires more than meeting the ordinary trading margin because the long may need the full payment amount and the short may need the complete deliverable asset.
Invoice Price
The invoice price is the amount used to calculate payment for the delivered asset under the contract rules.
It may be based on a futures settlement price, final delivery price, conversion factor, quality adjustment, or other contract-specific formula.
A crypto contract may calculate the invoice in conventional currency, stable-value assets, or another digital asset.
The payment amount can differ from the cash balance initially deposited as futures margin.
Traders must distinguish margin from the funds required to complete delivery.
Delivery Failure and Default
A delivery failure occurs when a participant does not provide the required asset, payment, documentation, or operational cooperation by the deadline.
The clearing organization may declare a default under its rules.
Possible responses include using collateral, purchasing replacement assets, liquidating positions, imposing penalties, suspending the participant, or allocating resulting losses.
A blockchain transfer sent to the wrong address may be irreversible and may not satisfy the delivery obligation.
A lack of available cryptocurrency, wallet outage, custodian failure, or network disruption can also create settlement problems.
Participants should test operational procedures before the notice period rather than attempting them for the first time on delivery day.
Why Most Traders Avoid Physical Delivery
Many futures traders use contracts for price exposure or hedging rather than to exchange the underlying asset.
They normally close or roll positions before entering the delivery process.
Physical delivery requires additional capital, custody preparation, operational knowledge, and compliance procedures.
For cryptocurrency, it can also involve wallet security, transaction monitoring, blockchain confirmations, and asset-specific technical risks.
Delivery can still be valuable for businesses that genuinely want to acquire or dispose of the underlying digital asset through a regulated contract structure.
Price Convergence Near Delivery
A properly designed delivery mechanism helps connect futures prices with the value of the deliverable underlying asset.
If futures prices remain far above the underlying market, participants may be encouraged to acquire the asset and deliver it against short futures positions.
If futures prices remain far below the underlying market, participants may seek to take delivery through long positions when practical.
These economic relationships can encourage convergence as maturity approaches.
Transaction costs, custody limits, borrowing constraints, delivery rules, and market stress can prevent perfect convergence.
Delivery Squeezes and Market Manipulation
A delivery squeeze can occur when a participant controls a large long position while the amount of deliverable supply is limited.
Short traders may be forced to acquire scarce deliverable assets at unusually high prices.
Crypto futures can face similar concerns when eligible coins, approved custody capacity, or transferable supply become constrained.
Position limits, accountability rules, surveillance, delivery-supply analysis, and emergency powers are intended to reduce manipulation risk.
A trader should not assume that a liquid spot market guarantees abundant deliverable supply under one contract’s specific rules.
Actual Delivery in Cryptocurrency Regulation
The phrase actual delivery also appears in U.S. guidance for certain leveraged retail cryptocurrency transactions.
This regulatory concept is related to possession and control of digital assets but is not identical to a futures delivery notice period.
The CFTC’s final virtual-currency delivery guidance discusses when a customer obtains possession and control in covered retail commodity transactions.
A futures notice period is created by the specifications and clearing rules of a futures contract.
The retail actual-delivery analysis concerns the legal treatment of a different category of leveraged transaction.
Users should not combine the two concepts merely because both use the word delivery.
Crypto Delivery Security Risks
Cryptocurrency delivery can expose participants to address-replacement malware, stolen credentials, compromised custody accounts, and fraudulent settlement instructions.
Every wallet address should be verified through an approved process.
Large transfers may require multiple authorized employees and independent confirmation.
Private keys and recovery phrases should never be sent through email, chat, or a delivery notice.
Participants should verify software updates, device security, transaction fees, network selection, and recipient addresses before signing.
A transfer on the wrong blockchain may not satisfy the delivery obligation even when the hexadecimal address looks valid.
Operational Checklist Before First Notice Day
Confirm whether the futures contract is physically delivered or cash settled.
Record the first notice day, last notice day, last trading day, settlement date, and final delivery day.
Check whether the intermediary uses an earlier mandatory closing deadline.
Confirm the contract size and the total quantity of cryptocurrency represented by the position.
Review approved assets, wallets, custodians, settlement currencies, and blockchain confirmation rules.
Calculate the funds or digital assets required to complete delivery.
Verify that all accounts, permissions, identity checks, and custody arrangements are active.
Decide whether to close, roll, make delivery, or take delivery before the position enters the critical period.
Advantages of a Delivery Notice Period
A delivery notice period creates a standardized timeline for initiating physical settlement.
It allows sellers to declare delivery intentions through a central process.
It gives clearing systems time to assign obligations and verify settlement readiness.
It helps connect futures prices with the underlying deliverable market.
It also provides published deadlines that traders and risk managers can include in operational planning.
Limitations of a Delivery Notice Period
The dates and procedures differ among contracts, making general assumptions unsafe.
Retail users may misunderstand first notice day as being the same as expiration.
Crypto delivery adds wallet, custody, network, confirmation, and cybersecurity risks.
A participant may face higher margin requirements or forced position closure before the official notice period.
Blockchain congestion and asset-specific events can delay settlement.
The notice process cannot eliminate counterparty, clearing, operational, legal, or market-manipulation risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a delivery notice period in simple terms?
It is the window during which a short futures position holder can formally announce an intention to deliver the underlying asset.
Does every crypto futures contract have a delivery notice period?
No, cash-settled futures and perpetual contracts generally do not require a conventional physical-delivery notice period.
Who sends a delivery notice?
The holder of an eligible short futures position initiates the notice through the applicable clearing process.
Who receives a delivery notice?
The clearing organization receives it and assigns the related delivery obligation to an eligible long position.
What is first notice day?
First notice day is the first day on which delivery notices can be received for the contract.
What is last notice day?
Last notice day is the final day on which a seller can submit a delivery notice.
What is notice day?
Notice day is any eligible day on which a notice of intent to deliver can be submitted.
Is first notice day the same as expiration?
No, first notice day and expiration can occur on different dates.
Is last trading day the same as last notice day?
No, they are separate contract events and may occur on different days.
Is the delivery period the same as the notice period?
No, the notice period initiates delivery, while the delivery period governs when the asset transfer can be completed.
What happens if I hold a long position after first notice day?
You may become eligible to receive a delivery assignment under the contract and clearing rules.
What happens if I hold a short position during the notice period?
You may be able or required to initiate delivery if the position remains open under the applicable rules.
Can I avoid taking delivery?
You can normally avoid it by closing or rolling the position before the applicable delivery-risk deadline.
Can I avoid making delivery?
A short trader can normally close or roll the position before submitting a notice or becoming subject to delivery requirements.
What does rolling a futures contract mean?
Rolling means closing the expiring contract and opening a similar position in a later contract month.
Can my position be closed automatically?
Yes, an intermediary may close a position when the customer is not approved or prepared for physical delivery.
Yes, customer position deadlines are often earlier than official contract deadlines.
How is crypto delivered under a futures contract?
Delivery may occur through an approved custodian, wallet transfer, internal book entry, or another method defined by the contract.
Do I need a cryptocurrency wallet?
Possibly, although some delivery systems require approved custodial accounts instead of direct personal-wallet transfers.
How many blockchain confirmations are required?
The required confirmation count depends on the contract, digital asset, custodian, and settlement rules.
Who pays blockchain transaction fees?
The contract or delivery procedures should identify which participant is responsible for applicable transfer fees.
What happens if the blockchain is congested?
Settlement may be delayed or handled through disruption procedures defined by the contract and clearing rules.
What happens during a blockchain fork?
The contract rules determine the recognized asset, network, delivery obligations, and treatment of related forked assets.
Does taking delivery include airdrops?
Not automatically, because the treatment of airdrops and related benefits depends on the contract and custody rules.
Does a cash-settled future deliver cryptocurrency?
No, it normally settles through a financial adjustment based on a final reference price.
Do perpetual contracts have first notice day?
Ordinary perpetual contracts have no fixed delivery date and therefore generally have no first notice day.
What is a delivery assignment?
It is the allocation of a seller’s delivery notice to a holder of an eligible long futures position.
Can I reject a delivery assignment?
An assigned long position generally must comply with the contract unless a specific transfer or retender procedure is permitted.
What is retendering?
Retendering is a contract-specific process that may allow a delivery notice to be returned and reassigned.
Is retendering always available?
No, its availability and conditions depend on the applicable contract and clearing rules.
What is an invoice price?
It is the price or formula used to calculate the payment required for the delivered asset.
Is futures margin enough to pay for delivery?
Not necessarily, because the long may need funds covering the complete delivery payment rather than only trading margin.
What must the short provide?
The short must provide the eligible quantity and form of the cryptocurrency or delivery instrument specified by the contract.
What must the long provide?
The long must provide the required payment and satisfy all account, custody, and settlement conditions.
What happens if delivery fails?
Default rules may permit penalties, collateral use, replacement transactions, forced liquidation, suspension, or other remedies.
Can a wrong wallet address reverse a delivery?
Blockchain transfers are often irreversible, so address verification is essential before settlement.
Will clearing staff ask for my seed phrase?
No legitimate futures delivery process requires disclosure of a wallet seed phrase or private key.
Why do most traders close before delivery?
Most traders seek price exposure rather than the operational and financial obligations of exchanging the underlying asset.
Can physical delivery affect futures prices?
Yes, a credible delivery mechanism can encourage convergence between futures and underlying market prices near maturity.
Can limited crypto supply create a delivery squeeze?
Yes, restricted eligible supply or custody capacity can place pressure on short traders who must obtain deliverable assets.
Is regulatory actual delivery the same as a delivery notice period?
No, regulatory actual-delivery guidance for certain retail crypto transactions is distinct from a futures contract’s notice process.
What should I check before trading an expiring crypto future?
Check settlement type, notice dates, trading deadlines, contract size, margin, wallet or custody requirements, and delivery procedures.
Conclusion
A delivery notice period is the contract-defined window during which an eligible short futures position holder can formally initiate physical delivery.
It begins with first notice day and ends with last notice day under the applicable contract rules.
The delivery notice is processed through the clearing system and assigned to an eligible long position.
The short must provide the approved underlying asset, while the long must provide the required payment and accept delivery.
The notice period is different from the delivery month, delivery period, last trading day, expiration date, and final settlement date.
Cash-settled crypto futures generally settle through a financial payment and do not require a conventional delivery notice.
Perpetual contracts generally have no fixed expiration or physical delivery date and therefore do not use an ordinary notice period.
Physically delivered crypto futures can require approved custody accounts, valid wallet instructions, sufficient blockchain confirmations, and procedures for network disruptions.
Traders who do not intend to exchange the underlying cryptocurrency should close or roll their positions before the relevant delivery-risk deadline.
They should also check whether their intermediary applies an earlier mandatory closing date.
Understanding the delivery notice period helps crypto futures traders avoid unexpected asset transfers, funding obligations, forced liquidation, and settlement defaults.
The exact contract specifications remain the controlling source because delivery timelines and procedures are not universal across cryptocurrency futures.