CME, Nasdaq to launch market-cap crypto index futures

CME Group and Nasdaq plan to begin trading Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures on June 8, pending regulatory approval. The contract is market-cap weighted and will be listed on CME in both micro and large sizes.

The index tracks seven tokens: Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar Lumens.

The futures are cash-settled and pay out at expiration based on the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, so no digital tokens are delivered at settlement.

The contract gives institutional investors a single instrument to hedge or gain broad exposure to the largest crypto assets without buying individual Bitcoin or Ether futures.

Nasdaq described the index as a governance-backed benchmark intended to support transparent price discovery and risk management for a multi-asset digital exposure. “As investor participation in cryptocurrencies continues to evolve, there is growing demand for benchmarks that reflect the broader market and are built with the same governance and transparency investors expect in other asset classes,” Sean Wasserman, Head of Index Product Management at Nasdaq, said.

CME has expanded its crypto offerings since listing its first Bitcoin futures in December 2017. Ether futures began trading in February 2021, with XRP and Solana products added later. The exchange says its products now cover assets representing more than 75% of total crypto market capitalization.

CME reported average daily trading across its crypto complex reached about 407,200 contracts in early 2026, up 46% from a year earlier. Year-to-date volumes across the crypto suite are up 43%. In 2025 the crypto complex averaged about 270,900 contracts per day, roughly $12 billion in notional value daily, a 132% increase from 2024. The exchange recorded a single-day high of nearly 795,000 contracts last November.

Giovanni Vicioso, who leads crypto products at CME, described the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures as a regulated, cost-effective and convenient way for clients to hedge or gain broad-based exposure to the crypto market.

CME will begin 24/7 crypto trading on May 29, shortly before the index futures start. The exchange has also flagged interest in tokenization; CEO Terry Duffy noted during a February earnings call that CME is considering issuing its own digital token as part of a review of tokenized collateral and market infrastructure.