CME Group set to launch Nasdaq CME crypto index futures in June

CryptopolitanMay 14, 2026 5:25 PM

View all comments（0）



The CME group has announced plans to partner with Nasdaq to launch the firm’s first weighted crypto futures by market cap on June 8. This new product is intended to give its institutional traders exposure to the major cryptocurrencies, subject to regulatory review.

The exchange announced that the crypto futures, will be available in both micro and larger contract sizes. At expiration, contracts will settle against the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, which tracks the largest and most actively traded cryptocurrencies. This index currently includes Bitcoin, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, and XLM, according to the CME Group press release.

Institutional demand drives CME and Nasdaq partnership

Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group, has said the new contracts will offer clients “a regulated, cost-effective and convenient way to hedge or gain broad-based exposure to the overall crypto market.” He added that a 43% increase in average daily volume across CME’s crypto futures suite is strong evidence of increased institutional demand.

Sean Wasserman, Head of Index Product Management at Nasdaq, framed the product as a response to investor demand for transparent and governance-backed benchmarks. “The Nasdaq CME Crypto Index was designed to serve as a foundation, and the introduction of futures linked to the index is a natural extension of how index-based frameworks support market development over time,” Wasserman said in the same announcement statement.

Why employ a market-cap weighted contract?

The CME group already offers individual futures on BTC, ETH, and several altcoins. What it has not offered until now is a single contract weighted by market capitalization across multiple crypto tokens. This structure mirrors how equity investors use index futures (the S&P 500 E-mini, for example) to manage market exposure without picking individual stocks to invest in.

This appeals to portfolio managers as it helps with investment efficiency. Instead of creating and rebalancing a position involving multiple cryptocurrencies across separate futures contracts, they can simply work with a single futures tool to hedge their crypto exposure.

The CME Nasdaq crypto index futures arrive during a period of rapid expansion for the CME Group’s crypto products. Earlier in 2026, CME launched futures on Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Lumens (XLM). In May, the exchange announced Bitcoin Volatility futures (ticker BVI) set to begin trading on June 1, which is a product that allows traders to speculate on or hedge against Bitcoin price swings instead of trading towards a particular price direction, as Cryptopolitan previously reported.

If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice.

Comments (0)

Click the $ button, enter the symbol, and select to link a stock, ETF, or other ticker.

Commenting Guidelines

Recommended Articles

Intel (INTC) Surged 8% Tuesday on Three Catalysts - Earnings Tomorrow

Intel surged 8.4% Tuesday on three confirmed catalysts: Xeon 8000 MT memory upgrade, expanded Google Cloud AI deal, and 18A cloud foundry commitment. 18A yields at 85%. Earnings Thursday. At $105, here is the setup.

Today’s Market Recap: Oil Prices Surge, Chip Stocks Rally, Micron, SanDisk, Western Digital Jump

TradingKey - On July 21 ET, the three major U.S. stock indices closed higher collectively, led by the Nasdaq. Despite Middle East tensions continuing to drive up oil prices and Treasury yields, investors returned to AI and semiconductor stocks following a sharp correction, leading to a notable recov

Semiconductors Trigger Short Squeeze: Kospi Surges Nearly 6%, Kioxia and SK Hynix Jump 9%, SoftBank and Samsung Rally Together

Japanese and South Korean stock markets extended their rally, with the KOSPI surging nearly 6% and the Nikkei 225 gaining nearly 2%. Kioxia and SK Hynix soared approximately 9%, while Samsung Electronics and SoftBank also followed the upward trend.

US Stocks Close: Three Major Indices Rebound Strongly, Philadelphia Semiconductor Index Rises Over 5%; Micron Soars 12%, Returns to $1 Trillion Market Cap; Strong Start to Earnings Season, Most Reporting Companies Beat Profit Expectations

TradingKey - This earnings season is off to a strong start, with 87% of the 54 S&P 500 components that have reported so far exceeding profit expectations. Additionally, reports that TSMC will raise prices by 10% next year boosted rallies in chip and memory stocks. U.S. stocks rebounded sharply, with all three major indices closing higher and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index surging over 5%. At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.74% to 52,224.64; the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 1.29% to 25,837.21; and the S&P 500 Index climbed 0.89% to 7,509.20.

Alphabet Q2 Earnings Preview: $190 Billion AI Gamble Faces Major Test, Can Google Cloud Still Sustain the Growth Myth?

TradingKey - Alphabet (GOOGL) (GOOG) will release its second-quarter 2026 financial results after the U.S. market close on July 22. As one of the world's most valuable technology companies by market capitalization, Alphabet’s business spans multiple sectors including search advertising, YouTube, Google Cloud, generative AI, and autonomous driving. Its earnings performance not only impacts its own stock price but is also regarded as a crucial bellwether for the global AI investment cycle.

Featured Tools