CME Group, the world's largest derivatives marketplace, is significantly expanding its cryptocurrency offerings with new futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM). These cash-settled contracts, referencing CME CF Reference Rates, went live on February 9. The expanded lineup now covers seven major crypto assets, representing over 75% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization. Both standard and micro-sized contracts are available, accommodating a wide range of market participants.
CME also plans to introduce a Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures product on March 16, pending regulatory approval. The company reported a record year in 2025 for its crypto derivatives business, with an average daily volume of 278,300 contracts, equating to approximately $12 billion in notional value traded daily. This sustained institutional engagement is reflected in rising average daily open interest.