Leading derivatives exchange CME Group is taking another major step into the crypto sector through a partnership with Nasdaq. The company announced that, pending regulatory approval, its new market-cap weighted crypto index futures contracts will begin trading on June 8. The product is designed to give institutional investors broad exposure to the crypto market through a single contract.
The cash-settled contracts will track the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, which currently includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar. Investors will be able to trade both standard and micro-sized contracts tied to the performance of these assets.
According to CME Group executive Giovanni Vicioso, the new contracts will provide clients with broader risk management and portfolio diversification opportunities across the crypto market. CME’s crypto futures trading volume has already climbed 43% year-to-date, highlighting rising institutional demand. Although the launch was initially planned for March, the rollout was postponed to June as the companies finalized updates and regulatory preparations.
