Derivative financial assets refer to financial assets whose value is derived from changes in another financial asset or changes in the price of a benchmark asset. The price changes of derivative financial assets are mainly affected by the price changes of their underlying assets. Common derivative financial assets include futures, options, swap contracts and derivative securities. Derivative financial assets are created to meet the risk management and investment needs of investors and institutions.

With the continuous evolution of financial markets and the innovation of financial instruments, the growth trend of derivative financial assets in the market is obvious. European and American financial markets were the earliest to develop, and their derivative financial instruments are also rich in types, including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, stock options, etc. There are also more and more derivative financial assets appearing in Asian markets, such as China's stock index futures, commodity futures, bond futures, etc. As a tool to measure capital market risks, support financial innovation and increase market liquidity, derivative financial assets play an important role in promoting the stable development of financial markets and the economy.

However, the operation of the derivative financial asset market also faces some risks, such as operational risk, market risk, etc. Especially during the global financial market crisis, investors in certain derivative financial assets suffered huge losses, leading the public and regulatory authorities to question investments in derivative financial assets. Therefore, it is particularly important to establish relevant market rules and regulatory systems to regulate and ensure the effective operation of the derivative financial market and ensure the steady development of the financial market.