CME Crypto Futures Set New Record in January, Driven by Micro Contracts Surge

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) saw a significant surge in its crypto futures trading volumes in January, with average daily volume (ADV) reaching 198,000 contracts, amounting to a notional value of $13.6 billion. This marks a notable 180% year-over-year increase.

A key driver behind this growth was the performance of micro bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) futures, which soared by 255% and 223%, respectively. These micro contracts, which represent 0.1 of a bitcoin or ether, offer traders more flexibility and precision in managing risk and exposure compared to the full-sized contracts, which are 5 BTC and 50 ETH.

In addition to the futures contracts, CME also provides options on both bitcoin and ether futures, allowing traders to implement more sophisticated strategies to fine-tune their risk. These options give traders the ability to buy or sell futures at a predetermined price before a set date, adding another layer of flexibility to the crypto market.

CME’s total ADV across all contracts reached 25.7 million in January, marking another milestone for the exchange. Furthermore, the CME Group announced plans to introduce options on Bitcoin Friday Futures (BFF) starting February 24, pending regulatory approval.