CME Group expanded its cryptocurrency derivatives lineup on December 15, 2025, launching new spot-quoted futures contracts for XRP and Solana (SOL).
The new products are designed to track real-time spot market prices more closely than traditional futures, addressing growing demand from both institutional and active retail traders.
The launch builds on CME Group’s push to align derivatives more closely with spot market dynamics, following the earlier rollout of spot-quoted Bitcoin and Ether futures.
Smallest Crypto Futures Contracts to Date
CME Group said the new XRP and Solana contracts are the smallest crypto derivatives it has ever offered, aiming to improve accessibility and precision across a wider range of market participants.
Under the contract specifications:
- XRP futures are sized at 250 XRP tokens
- Solana futures are sized at 5 SOL tokens
Both contracts are cash-settled, using the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate and the CME CF Solana-Dollar Reference Rate as settlement benchmarks.
A key feature of the spot-quoted structure is that traders can manage positions in spot-market terms, rather than traditional futures pricing. The contracts include daily financing adjustments, reducing the need for frequent rollovers or active management of contract expiries.
Trading at Settlement Functionality Added
Alongside the new futures, CME Group also introduced Trading at Settlement (TAS) functionality for XRP, Solana, and Micro crypto futures. TAS allows participants to execute trades at or near the daily settlement price, offering additional flexibility for risk management.
CME Group noted that TAS is particularly relevant given the expanding market for crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), where precise end-of-day pricing can be critical for hedging and portfolio adjustments.
Launch Follows Rising ETF Demand
The timing of the new products aligns with increased institutional interest in both assets. According to the data cited, XRP spot ETFs attracted approximately $179.6 million in inflows this week, while Solana-linked funds recorded around $128.2 million in inflows over the same period.
CME Group positioned the new futures as complementary tools for managing exposure alongside these spot investment vehicles, rather than replacements for existing products.
Expanding the Crypto Derivatives Toolkit
The XRP and Solana launches extend CME Group’s growing suite of spot-quoted crypto futures, which already includes Bitcoin and Ether. The exchange said those earlier contracts have experienced strong growth since launch, supporting the case for expanding the model to additional digital assets.
With smaller contract sizes, spot-based pricing, and enhanced settlement tools, CME Group is positioning the new futures as infrastructure designed for a maturing crypto market with increasing institutional participation.
