CME Group to Launch Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Futures
CME will roll out regulated futures in ADA, LINK, and XLM on February 9 to await CFTC approval, and add to its range of crypto derivatives. The contracts will come in standard and micro sizes, offering...
- CME will roll out regulated futures in ADA, LINK, and XLM on February 9 to await CFTC approval, and add to its range of crypto derivatives.
- The contracts will come in standard and micro sizes, offering exposure of 100,000 ADA, 5,000 LINK, or 250,000 XLM per standard contract.
The CME Group marketplace plans to list futures contracts tied to Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM). Trading is scheduled to begin on February 9, subject to regulatory review, expanding CME’s regulated crypto derivatives lineup beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The company announced the planned launch in a post shared on X. The new offerings will be available in both standard and micro contract sizes, which CME said will serve institutional participants and smaller traders seeking regulated exposure to the three altcoins.
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
The planned listing adds to CME Group’s existing crypto suite, which already includes Bitcoin and Ether futures and options, as well as products linked to other major digital assets such as XRP and Solana. The ADA, LINK, and XLM futures remain pending approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), consistent with CME’s approach to bringing crypto derivatives to market through regulated channels.
CME Expands Crypto Offerings
CME Group stated that the standard contracts will represent 100,000 ADA, 5,000 LINK, or 250,000 XLM per contract. The micro versions will offer smaller exposures of 10,000 ADA, 250 LINK, or 12,500 XLM.
The exchange has also mentioned that its crypto derivatives business has grown recently. Last year, trading in cryptocurrency derivatives hit historic highs, with the average volume per day increasing 139% to 278,000 contracts.
This activity, said CME, was approximately $12 billion in notional volume, which saw demand accessing regulated crypto markets in the form of futures and options products.
ADA, LINK, and XLM market prices did not exhibit any significant short-term action following the announcement. Data indicated ADA dropped 2% during the last day to trade at $0.39 at the time of reporting. XLM dropped 1% to close at $0.22, and LINK fell 0.6% to approximately $13.
The planned futures launch comes as regulated derivatives continue to play a growing role in crypto trading and risk management. CNF previously cited that big crypto projects are aiming at Wall Street as institutional demand for digital assets keeps on increasing. Nasdaq has collaborated with the Chicago-based exchange to rebrand to the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index (NCI).
The index also follows a fixed pool of Bitcoin and Ethereum, and rotating altcoins, including Chainlink, Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Stellar.
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Ronny is an experienced crypto journalist and SEO expert with over 5 years in the field, having made notable contributions to multiple media outlets covering cryptocurrency trends, markets, and technologies. He has authored and edited over 7,000 articles, striving to educate, inform, and introduce a wider audience to the world of Blockchain and DeFi. Beyond journalism, Ronny is passionate about bike riding, enjoying the excitement of discovering new trails and scenic landscapes.
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