CME adds Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar to growing crypto derivatives lineup

CME Group plans to expand its regulated crypto derivatives roster with futures tied to Cardano's ADA, Chainlink's LINK, and Stellar's XLM, with trading slated to begin Feb. 9.

Each will come in both standard and micro contracts, giving traders a choice between larger exposure and smaller, lower-cost positions.

The additions build on a crypto suite that already includes bitcoin, ether, XRP and solana futures and options.

CME reported record activity across its crypto futures and options in 2025, with average daily volumes and open interest reaching new highs earlier in the year as demand for regulated digital asset exposure accelerated. That momentum faded into year-end, however.

Bitcoin futures volumes and open interest fell sharply in December, marking the weakest month of 2025, while Ethereum and Solana contracts posted consecutive monthly declines from October through the end of the year following a broad market liquidation in early October, according to The Block's futures data.

Despite the late-year slowdown, CME remains confident in longer-term demand.

“Clients are looking for trusted, regulated products to manage price risk,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s global head of cryptocurrency products, adding that the new contracts are intended to broaden access as crypto markets mature.

CME's push toward 'always-on' trading

The exchange has been among the most aggressive traditional market operators in embracing crypto trading.

Beyond adding new tokens, CME has also pointed to digital assets as central to its longer-term market structure plans, including a shift toward continuous trading.

CME said last year it intends to move its crypto futures and options toward an “always on” model in 2026, as demand rises for round-the-clock risk management in markets that trade globally and never close.

While that transition has not yet gone live, executives have repeatedly described crypto as the most natural starting point for nonstop trading across financial markets.