Binance to Launch PHAROS and STAR Perpetual Futures on May 14
Binance will list perpetual futures for Pharos (PHAROS) and Star Power (STAR) on May 14, 2026. PHAROS perpetual futures start at 5:15 a.m. UTC, followed by STAR at 5:30 a.m. UTC.
Binance will offer up to 20x leverage for the PHAROS perpetual contract. STAR perpetual futures will be capped at 3x leverage. The article notes standard Binance perpetual futures mechanics, including mark-to-market settlement and an insurance fund designed to reduce liquidation impact, while funding rates keep the contract price aligned with spot.
For traders, the new Binance perpetual futures add fresh instruments for hedging, speculation, and potential arbitrage. The leverage gap suggests Binance expects different liquidity and volatility profiles: higher leverage typically aligns with deeper markets, while lower leverage reflects tighter risk controls.
Key watch items for trading are funding rates, liquidity conditions at launch, and liquidation thresholds—especially for PHAROS given the 20x cap. Overall, Binance’s derivatives expansion continues, potentially drawing more volume into the exchange’s leveraged products.
Neutral
Impact is likely neutral for the broader market, but it can be locally meaningful for PHAROS and STAR.
This is a derivatives listing, not a protocol upgrade or major regulatory shift. Historically, when major venues add new perpetual futures, they often increase short-term trading activity in the newly listed assets (tighter spreads as liquidity migrates, and more hedging demand). However, the effect is usually concentrated in the specific tokens rather than pushing BTC/ETH-level market direction.
Short term: Traders may front-run the listing by positioning in PHAROS/STAR, especially with higher leverage (up to 20x for PHAROS). That can amplify volatility and liquidation sensitivity near launch as funding rates adjust.
Long term: If market depth improves and funding remains stable, the instruments can attract sustained volume and improve price discovery. If liquidity is thin or funding becomes persistently unfavorable, it may increase risk and deter systematic traders.
Compared with past perpetual launches, the key driver here is leverage and liquidity expectations—Binance’s 20x vs 3x split suggests different risk profiles, which typically leads to differentiated volatility rather than a broad bull/bear regime.