CME Group to Launch 3 New Crypto Futures Contracts in February
CME Group Expands Crypto Product Suite
CME Group, the world's largest derivatives marketplace, is set to launch futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) on February 9, pending regulatory approval. This development brings regulated crypto derivatives to these major altcoins, enhancing institutional access without significantly affecting their prices.
CME announced the initiative via an official post on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting that these new offerings will be available in both standard and micro contract sizes. Standard contracts include 100,000 ADA, 5,000 LINK, or 250,000 XLM, while micro contracts offer 10,000 ADA, 250 LINK, or 12,500 XLM. This provides smaller traders with a lower financial entry point into regulated crypto trading.
"Our Crypto product suite is growing with new Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar futures. Available in both larger and micro sizes, these contracts will offer capital efficiency and versatility," the CME team noted.
The expansion comes amid heightened demand for regulated crypto investments. In 2025, CME reported record crypto derivatives activity with a 139% increase in average daily volume, reaching 278,000 contracts or $12 billion in notional value.
CME Move Brings Institutional Recognition
Despite the announcement, prices for ADA, LINK, and XLM remained relatively stable, mirroring previous trends seen with other CME futures launches. BeInCrypto Markets data showed slight declines for these assets, aligning with broader market performance.
"What this means for Stellar: XLM gains institutional-grade recognition, regulated futures open doors for hedge funds and asset managers," wrote Scopuly, a Stellar-based DeFi wallet.
Overall, CME's new futures contracts for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar underscore the maturation of crypto derivatives markets, reinforcing the role of regulated instruments in enhancing institutional participation and market infrastructure for altcoins.