CME Group Launches Crypto Index Futures Tracking Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP

TLDR

CME Group has launched Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures, giving traders a regulated futures product tied to a basket of major digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar.

The contracts began trading on June 8 and are financially settled at expiration to the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index. The index measures the performance of the largest and most actively traded cryptocurrencies, allowing investors to gain broad crypto exposure through a single futures contract rather than managing separate positions across multiple tokens.

As of June 9, the index included Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ether, Solana, XRP, Cardano, Chainlink, and Lumens. Market-cap weighting gives Bitcoin the largest share of the index, while other crypto assets make up smaller allocations.

Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Futures Begin Trading

CME Group said the new contracts are designed to help investors hedge risk or gain exposure to the broader crypto market through a regulated derivatives marketplace. The product is cash-settled, meaning traders do not receive or deliver digital tokens when contracts expire.

Instead, settlement is based on the value of the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index. This structure removes the need for wallets, token custody, blockchain transfers, or physical delivery of crypto assets.

CME is offering two contract sizes. The standard contract trades under the ticker NCI, while the micro contract trades under the ticker MCI. The standard version is aimed at larger institutional traders, while the micro version allows smaller funds and individual market participants to access the product with lower notional exposure.

Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s global head of cryptocurrency products, said the launch marks a milestone in the expansion of CME’s regulated digital asset marketplace. He said investors are seeking diversified crypto exposure while retaining capital efficiency and transparency.

Bitcoin Holds Largest Index Weight

The Nasdaq CME Crypto Index is weighted by market capitalization, which means Bitcoin dominates the basket. Bitcoin accounts for 76.96% of the index, making it the primary driver of contract performance.

Ethereum holds the second-largest share at 12.68%. XRP follows with a 5.80% weighting, while Solana accounts for 3.23%.

The remaining assets hold smaller allocations. Cardano represents 0.65% of the index, Chainlink accounts for 0.37%, and Stellar makes up 0.30%. Together, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar represent 1.32% of the index.

Because of Bitcoin’s large weighting, the futures product remains heavily influenced by Bitcoin price movements. However, the inclusion of Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar gives the contract broader exposure than single-asset crypto futures.

Nasdaq’s Sean Wasserman said demand for digital asset benchmarks is growing as investor participation increases. He said futures linked to the index extend the role of index-based frameworks in market development.

CME Expands Regulated Crypto Product Line

CME has offered crypto futures since launching Bitcoin futures in 2017. The exchange later added Ethereum futures and introduced Solana futures in March 2025. The Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures mark CME’s first market-cap-weighted crypto basket futures product.

The product was developed in partnership with Nasdaq, which provides the index methodology and calculation. CME provides the trading venue, clearing infrastructure, and futures market framework.

The launch comes as institutional interest in crypto derivatives continues to expand. Offshore exchanges have offered crypto index products and perpetual contracts for years, but many U.S. institutions require regulated venues, clearing processes, and transparent benchmarks before participating.

Mick McLaughlin, U.S. chief executive officer and head of global distribution at Hashdex Asset Management, said the launch reflects crypto’s growing connection with traditional financial market infrastructure. He said index-based futures can help investors and advisers manage and hedge digital asset portfolios through a regulated framework.

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