Points of Focus

• CME Group has launched Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures tied to a basket of eight major cryptocurrencies.
• The contracts are cash-settled and track the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index.
• The index includes BTC, BCH, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, and XLM.
• The launch gives institutions a regulated way to trade broad crypto market exposure through a single futures product.

CME Group has launched Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures, introducing its first market-cap-weighted crypto futures contract tied to a basket of eight digital assets rather than a single token.

The contracts are cash-settled against the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, a benchmark that tracks some of the largest and most actively traded cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. As of June 9, the index includes Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP (XRP), Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar Lumens (XLM).

CME Group Launches Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Futures Covering BTC, ETH and SOL

CME Group announced the launch of Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Futures, which will be cash-settled against the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, a benchmark designed to measure the overall… pic.twitter.com/B6BfnZa8zL

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 10, 2026

Nasdaq crypto index tracks eight major digital assets

The contract is CME’s first market-cap-weighted crypto futures product. Unlike existing Bitcoin and Ether futures that provide exposure to a single asset, the new contract allows traders to gain exposure to multiple cryptocurrencies through one regulated instrument.

CME said the futures are available in both standard and micro-sized contracts. Both versions settle in cash at expiration, allowing institutions to trade or hedge crypto exposure without holding tokens, managing wallets, or moving assets between exchanges.

Giovanni Vicioso, global head of cryptocurrency products at CME Group, said the contracts were designed for investors seeking diversified crypto exposure while maintaining access to a regulated futures marketplace.

The underlying benchmark was developed by Nasdaq and Hashdex. According to product details released alongside the launch, Bitcoin currently represents the largest share of the index, with Ether, XRP, and Solana accounting for most of the remaining weight.

Regulated crypto derivatives market continues to expand

The launch follows a period of rapid expansion in regulated crypto products. US spot Bitcoin ETFs began trading in January 2024, spot Ether ETFs launched in July 2024, and exchanges have since added new crypto options and futures products aimed at institutional investors.

The contract allows traders to gain exposure to eight major cryptocurrencies through a single position instead of managing separate futures contracts across multiple assets. That may appeal to funds that benchmark performance against the wider crypto market rather than a single token.

At the same time, the launch doesn’t guarantee immediate adoption. Index-based futures depend heavily on trading volume, market-maker participation, and open interest to become effective hedging tools. Bitcoin also remains the dominant component of the index, meaning performance will still be heavily influenced by the largest cryptocurrency.

The futures began trading on June 9 and are settled against the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, which currently tracks eight cryptocurrencies led by Bitcoin.