CME Group announces Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Futures. A new way to trade crypto via one product based on a basket of primary coins. The derivatives giant said it will cash‑settle the contracts to the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, a benchmark that tracks the largest and most actively traded cryptocurrencies by market value. The index will include Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP, Cardano (ADA), and Chainlink as of June 9, 2026.
How the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Futures Work
CME described the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures as its first market‑cap‑weighted crypto futures, available in both standard and micro sizes. At expiration, the contracts settle financially to the value of the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, rather than requiring physical delivery of any tokens. That structure lets institutions gain or hedge broad crypto exposure while staying inside a fully regulated futures framework.
The underlying index, developed by Nasdaq and Hashdex, calculates prices from major spot exchanges and refreshes in real time, with a daily settlement value at 4 p.m. New York time.
As of early June, Bitcoin accounts for roughly four‑fifths of the index weight, with Ether, XRP, and Solana making up most of the rest, and smaller slices assigned to ADA, LINK, XLM, and BCH. Because the composition is rules‑based and reviewed regularly, the basket can evolve as market leadership shifts.
Why CME and Nasdaq are Bundling “blue‑chip” Crypto
“With trading now officially underway, our new Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures represent a major milestone in the expansion of our regulated digital asset marketplace,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products.
He stated that the contract provides clients with a regulated, cost-effective method to hedge or gain extensive exposure to the overall crypto market.
Nasdaq, for its part, says the index aims to be a “reliable and dynamic benchmark for crypto assets” by focusing on liquid, large‑cap names.
The product could appeal to asset managers who want diversified crypto exposure without picking individual coins or managing multiple futures positions. It also complements existing single‑asset CME futures on Bitcoin and Ether, adding a tool for macro traders who care more about the sector’s direction than any one token.
