CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives exchange, announced plans to launch futures contracts tied to Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar, expanding its cryptocurrency offerings beyond Bitcoin and Ether. The contracts, available in both standard and micro sizes, are scheduled to begin trading on Feb. 9, pending regulatory approval, with standard Cardano futures at 100,000 Cardano per contract, micro at 10,000, Chainlink at 5,000 standard and 250 micro, and Stellar at 250,000 standard and 12,500 micro. “Given crypto’s record growth over the last year, clients are looking for trusted, regulated products to manage price risk as well as additional tools to gain exposure to this dynamic market,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, who added that offering both micro and standard sizes will give market participants greater choice with enhanced flexibility and more capital-efficiencies.
The three digital assets represent established projects in the cryptocurrency sector. Cardano, a programmable blockchain, currently ranks among the top cryptocurrencies globally by market capitalization. Chainlink operates as an oracle network providing real-world data feeds for smart contracts. Stellar supports smart contracts and global payment infrastructure.
CME Group launched bitcoin futures in 2017 and has since expanded its cryptocurrency derivatives offerings to include futures and options tied to Bitcoin, Ether, XRP and Solana. In 2025, the exchange recorded average daily volume of 278,300 contracts in crypto derivatives, with average open interest reaching 313,900 contracts. The listings come as institutional demand for cryptocurrency risk-management tools continues to expand, and micro contracts have gained popularity among smaller traders and institutions testing market exposure. The expansion reflects broader institutional adoption of cryptocurrency derivatives as financial infrastructure for digital assets continues to develop.
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