CME Group has reported a record-breaking quarter for its cryptocurrency derivatives, with total activity hitting an all-time high, largely due to growing interest in micro futures.

In Q1 2025, average daily volume across CME’s crypto products reached 198,000 contracts, translating to $11.3 billion in notional value. This surge was led by record trades in micro ether futures, which averaged 76,000 contracts per day. Micro bitcoin futures followed closely with an average of 77,000 contracts, marking a 113% increase from the previous year.

Larger contracts also performed strongly, with bitcoin and ether futures averaging 18,000 and 13,000 contracts daily, respectively. CME’s micro futures—representing just one-tenth of a BTC or ETH—are designed to give traders greater flexibility and precision in portfolio exposure and risk management.

This crypto growth trend coincides with overall momentum at CME, which also reported its highest-ever quarterly average daily volume across all products: 29.8 million contracts. Other sectors contributing to this milestone included U.S. Treasury futures, energy options, and agricultural derivatives.

CME’s performance underscores the rising appetite for regulated, scalable crypto trading infrastructure—particularly among professional traders and institutions seeking efficient ways to navigate digital asset markets.