CME Expands Crypto Derivatives With Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Futures

• CME adds regulated futures for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar to meet rising institutional demand in crypto markets.
• Standard and micro contracts lower entry costs while supporting hedging needs across volatile crypto assets globally.
• Record futures volumes in 2025 show sustained participation as CME expands round the clock crypto trading access.

CME Group will expand its regulated crypto derivatives lineup with new futures tied to Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar. The contracts are scheduled to launch on February 9, pending final regulatory approval. This move places major altcoins deeper into traditional derivatives markets. It also reflects sustained institutional demand for regulated crypto exposure.

The new futures will cover ADA, LINK, and XLM through standard and micro-sized contracts. For Cardano, the standard contract will represent 100,000 tokens, while the micro will cover 10,000 tokens. Chainlink contracts will cover 5,000 tokens, with micro contracts set at 250 tokens. Stellar contracts will represent 250,000 lumens, while micro versions will include 12,500 lumens.

These sizes aim to support varied trading strategies and risk profiles. Larger firms can hedge broader exposure through standard contracts. Meanwhile, smaller participants can use micro contracts with lower capital requirements. As a result, CME can serve a wider range of market participants under the same regulated framework.

CME has played a central role in regulated crypto derivatives for several years. The exchange launched Bitcoin futures in December 2017, well before most competitors. Since then, it has expanded into Ethereum, Solana, and XRP futures and options. The addition of ADA, LINK, and XLM follows that gradual expansion strategy.

Moreover, CME operates cryptocurrency reference rates and indices through its CME CF Benchmarks. These benchmarks help standardize pricing data across the industry. Recently, assets such as Arbitrum, Near, Ondo, and Sui joined the benchmark data. However, CME has not announced futures contracts for those tokens yet.

Crypto futures and options trading reached record levels during 2025. Average daily contract volume climbed to 278,300 contracts. This activity represented roughly $12 billion in daily notional value. At the same time, open interest reached 313,900 contracts, equal to $26.4 billion in notional exposure.

These figures suggest sustained participation rather than short-term speculation. Institutional traders increasingly use futures to manage volatility and hedge exposure. Consequently, demand for additional regulated products has remained strong throughout the year.

The altcoin futures launch aligns with CME’s broader move toward continuous crypto trading. The exchange plans to support 24/7 trading across crypto derivatives. This approach mirrors the always-on nature of spot crypto markets. It also reduces pricing gaps that can form during traditional market closures.