Haciyev Reşit 
As interest in regulated crypto products rises, CME Group plans to launch new futures contracts for three altcoins. According to the company, futures for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) will go live on February 9 (subject to regulatory approval). This move will provide investors with greater flexibility through both standard and micro contracts.
New Futures and Micro Contracts
The new futures contracts will be available in both standard and micro sizes for ADA, LINK, and XLM. ADA futures will be 100,000 ADA, with Micro ADA at 10,000 ADA. LINK contracts will be 5,000 LINK, Micro LINK 250 LINK, and Stellar (XLM) contracts 250,000 Lumens, with Micro Lumens at 12,500 Lumens. This structure allows investors to choose between large positions or lower-cost smaller trades according to their budgets.
This setup enables both institutional and retail investors to manage portfolios more flexibly and take advantage of opportunities in the crypto market. Micro contracts also make regulated futures more accessible to smaller investors, increasing liquidity in the market.
CME’s Performance in the Crypto Market
CME Group already offers a strong crypto lineup with Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana futures and options. In 2025, average daily futures volume reached 278,300 contracts (around $12 billion nominal) with an average open interest of 313,900 contracts ($26.4 billion nominal). Options saw an average daily volume of 4,100 contracts with an open interest of 60,400 contracts, hitting historic levels.
“Rapid growth in cryptocurrencies shows that clients are seeking reliable products to manage price risk and gain exposure to this dynamic market. New micro and standard contracts provide investors with more flexibility and capital efficiency,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group Global Head of Crypto Products.
Executives from Wedbush Securities and Volatility Shares highlighted the importance of regulated crypto futures for market maturity and risk management.
Assessment
The new futures for ADA, LINK, and XLM by CME Group significantly enhance portfolio diversification and risk management for both institutional and retail investors. Available in standard and micro sizes, these contracts strengthen market liquidity, provide a range of trading options, and support safer and more controlled exposure to the altcoin market. This move also reinforces CME’s growth in crypto products and contributes to the maturation of regulated crypto markets.
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