Crude futures are contracts that obligate the buyer to purchase a certain amount of crude oil at a set price on a future date. They are traded on exchanges such as the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).
Buying crude futures can be a way to hedge against the risk of rising oil prices or to speculate on the future price of oil. It can also be a way to gain exposure to the oil market without having to take physical delivery of the oil.