CME Group has outlined plans to expand its regulated cryptocurrency derivatives offering with the introduction of futures contracts tied to Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar.
Subject to regulatory approval, the new products are scheduled to begin trading on February 9, 2026.
The move adds three additional digital assets to CME’s growing crypto lineup and reflects continued demand from institutional participants seeking regulated venues to manage digital asset exposure.
Contract Structure and Sizing
CME will offer both standard-sized and micro-sized contracts across all three assets, allowing traders to fine-tune risk management and capital deployment.
For Cardano, the standard futures contract will represent 100,000 ADA, with a micro version sized at 10,000 ADA. Chainlink contracts will be listed at 5,000 LINK for the standard contract and 250 LINK for the micro. Stellar futures will be offered in standard contracts of 250,000 XLM and micro contracts of 12,500 XLM.
The dual sizing mirrors CME’s existing approach in crypto derivatives, where micro contracts have been widely used to reduce margin requirements while maintaining price exposure.
Institutional Demand Driving Expansion
CME framed the launch as a response to strong growth across its crypto derivatives complex in 2025. During the year, the exchange reported average daily volumes of roughly 278,300 crypto contracts, representing about $12 billion in notional value.
With the addition of ADA, LINK, and XLM, the new contracts will sit alongside CME’s existing futures tied to Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, and Solana, further broadening the exchange’s coverage of large-cap and infrastructure-focused digital assets.
Move Toward Continuous Crypto Trading
The rollout also aligns with CME’s broader shift toward continuous cryptocurrency trading. The exchange has announced plans to transition its crypto products on the Globex platform to near 24/7 availability in early 2026, reflecting the always-on nature of digital asset markets.
By pairing expanded asset coverage with around-the-clock access, CME is positioning its derivatives suite as a core risk-management venue for institutions operating across global crypto markets.
