CME Plans New Altcoin Futures as Crypto Derivatives Activity Slows

​CME Group is preparing to expand its regulated cryptocurrency derivatives offering with futures contracts linked to Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK) and Stellar (XLM), with trading expected to begin on Feb. 9, subject to regulatory approval.

The exchange said the contracts will be available in both standard and micro sizes, allowing participants to choose between larger exposures and lower-cost entry points. Position sizes will range from 10,000 to 100,000 ADA, 250 to 5,000 LINK, and 12,500 to 250,000 XLM.

If launched, the new futures would complement CME’s existing crypto lineup, which already includes contracts tied to bitcoin, ether, XRP and Solana. The addition would also mark a further step beyond the two largest cryptocurrencies into a broader group of layer-1 and infrastructure tokens that have so far seen limited representation in US-regulated futures markets.

CME’s move comes after a volatile year for crypto derivatives. The exchange reported record volumes and open interest earlier in 2025 as demand for regulated exposure rose, but activity cooled toward year-end. Bitcoin futures volumes fell sharply in December, while ether and Solana contracts recorded several consecutive monthly declines following a broad market sell-off in October.

Despite the slowdown, CME has maintained that client demand for regulated products remains intact. Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s global head of cryptocurrency products, said customers continue to look for “trusted, regulated products to manage price risk,” adding that the new contracts are intended to broaden access as the market matures.

The exchange has also framed digital assets as a testing ground for wider changes in market structure. CME has said it plans to move its crypto futures and options toward near-24/7 trading in 2026, reflecting the continuous nature of underlying crypto spot markets. Executives have described crypto as a natural starting point for such a shift before considering similar changes in other asset classes.

Beyond product launches, CME has recently aligned its crypto benchmarks more closely with Nasdaq by rebranding the Nasdaq Crypto Index as the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index. The index tracks several major tokens, including BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, LINK, ADA and Avalanche, and is used by asset managers and other market participants.

In the broader US market, regulated crypto futures remain heavily concentrated around bitcoin and ether. While exchanges such as Coinbase and Bitnomial have taken steps to introduce additional contracts under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight, the range of available altcoin futures is still limited. Against that backdrop, CME’s planned ADA, LINK and XLM listings would represent one of the more visible expansions of regulated altcoin derivatives in the United States.