Crypto futures expansion follows 139% growth in trading as regulated products draw rising institutional and retail demand
American financial services firm CME Group is preparing to expand its regulated crypto derivatives offering. New contracts tied to Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar are set to launch in February, following strong growth in crypto futures activity. The move comes as both institutional and retail traders seek regulated venues to manage risk while increasing exposure to digital assets.
CME Group Adds New Crypto Futures as Demand for Regulated Products Grows
CME Group announced plans to launch futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) on February 9. The contracts will be regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, offering market participants access to products that meet US regulatory standards.
Our Crypto product suite is growing with new Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar futures. 🚀
Available in both larger and micro sizes, these contracts will offer the capital efficiency and versatility to expand your strategy. ➡️ https://t.co/kl3EMcEzFi pic.twitter.com/HUC6rUPSSP
— CME Group (@CMEGroup) January 15, 2026
Moreover, the exchange aims to offer trading flexibility to market participants. As such, it will list both standard-sized and micro-sized futures for each token:
- Cardano futures (100,000 ADA), alongside Micro ADA futures (10,000 ADA).
- Chainlink contracts (5,000 LINK futures) and Micro LINK futures (250 LINK).
- Stellar, also known as Lumens (250,000 Lumens), with micro Lumens (12,500 Lumens).
CME Group’s crypto futures offering already spans Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, and Solana, alongside options on futures. With the latest additions, the exchange said institutional price discovery will extend across various digital assets.
Crypto Futures Activity Surges 139% Year Over Year at CME Group
According to reports, the CME Group’s expansion follows a 139% year-over-year increase in crypto futures trading activity. Market interest has continued to grow as digital assets gain wider acceptance among both institutional and retail investors.
Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group, said strong client demand drove the decision. Growing activity across crypto markets over the past year increased interest in regulated products that help manage price swings. Many traders, he added, are turning to trusted venues to hedge risk and gain market exposure.
Martin Franchi, Chief Executive Officer of NinjaTrader, described the launch as a major step for the futures industry. He said digital assets are moving deeper into global investment portfolios, with futures trading becoming more common among individual traders.
In addition, Justin Young, CEO and Co-Founder of Volatility Shares, also welcomed the move. The CEO said the firm is keen to see a broader range of regulated products that support trading and risk management in crypto markets.
New 100-Ounce Silver Futures Set to Launch
Alongside the crypto launch, CME Group confirmed plans to launch a 100-ounce silver futures contract on February 9. The contract will be financially settled based on the daily settlement price of the benchmark silver futures contract. It will also be listed under COMEX rules.
Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group, said silver is gaining interest from retail traders looking to diversify their portfolios. Rising demand helped drive record trading volumes in 2025 for Micro Gold and Micro Silver futures. The company recorded more than six million contracts traded in 1-ounce gold futures since its launch last year.
Image by CME Group
