CME Group announced the expansion of its crypto derivatives to Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Polkadot (DOT), with trading set to begin February 9, 2026, and a broader shift to 24/7 trading across its crypto products. The firm described the rollout as a major step toward closing weekend liquidity gaps and integrating digital assets into traditional financial markets. Cardano and Chainlink futures will launch with standard contracts of 100,000 ADA and 5,000 LINK units, respectively, plus micro-contracts at one-tenth the size, while Polkadot will join the 24/7 rollout with full implementation planned for Q2 2026.
This expansion follows a 92% year-over-year surge in CME’s crypto trading volumes in 2025, driven by Solana and XRP futures. Cross-margining with U.S. Treasury collateral is highlighted as a key advantage, noting substantial margin savings for institutional clients in recent years. The transition to around-the-clock trading will include a two-hour Saturday maintenance window and a scheme whereby weekend trades carry the trade date of the next business day for clearing purposes, ensuring continuous price discovery while preserving settlement integrity.
Initial market reactions have been overwhelmingly bullish for the underlying assets. Cardano and Chainlink have seen a marked increase in open interest on native crypto exchanges as traders position themselves for the influx of institutional liquidity. Regulators’ stance toward altcoins as commodities is noted, with CME’s listings potentially paving the way for future SEC spot ETFs for these assets and signaling closer alignment between TradFi and crypto markets. The move to 24/7 trading is positioned as a major bridge between traditional and digital markets, reducing weekend discontinuities and expanding institutional access to high-profile altcoins.
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