TLDR
- CME Group launched Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures tied to a diversified digital asset benchmark.
- The index includes BTC, BCH, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK and Stellar lumens.
- The futures contracts are cash-settled, reducing the need for direct token custody arrangements.
- CME says the product offers regulated tools for hedging risk and broad crypto exposure.
- Nasdaq says transparent crypto benchmarks are gaining demand as investor participation continues growing.
CME Group has launched Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures, adding a new regulated futures product tied to a basket of major digital assets. The contracts are cash-settled against the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, which is designed to measure the performance of the largest and most actively traded cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
As of June 9, 2026, the index includes bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ether, Solana, XRP, Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar lumens. The product gives market participants exposure to several leading cryptocurrencies through one index-linked futures contract rather than separate single-asset instruments.
CME said trading is now officially underway for the new futures contracts. The exchange described the launch as part of its broader regulated digital asset marketplace, where institutional and professional clients can manage crypto exposure through standardized derivatives.
Index Covers BTC, ETH and SOL
The Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index serves as the reference benchmark for the futures contract at expiration. By covering BTC, ETH, SOL and other large digital assets, the index aims to reflect a wider section of the cryptocurrency market than products focused only on bitcoin or ether.
Giovanni Vicioso, global head of cryptocurrency products at CME Group, said investors are seeking diversified exposure to crypto while using the transparency of a regulated futures marketplace. He said the contracts are intended to help clients hedge risk or pursue broad-based crypto opportunities in a cost-efficient structure.
The inclusion of multiple crypto assets may appeal to firms that want index-based exposure without directly holding tokens. Cash settlement also removes the need for physical delivery of digital assets, which can reduce operational requirements tied to custody and wallet management.
Nasdaq and Market Participants Respond
Sean Wasserman, head of index product management at Nasdaq, said demand is growing for digital asset benchmarks built with governance and transparency. He said futures linked to the index are an extension of how index-based frameworks can support market development.
Hashdex Asset Management also described the launch as part of crypto’s interaction with traditional financial market infrastructure. Mick McLaughlin, the firm’s U.S. chief executive officer and head of global distribution, said index-oriented futures may help investors and advisers manage crypto portfolios through regulated tools.
The launch comes as derivatives exchanges continue adding crypto products for investors seeking structured access to digital assets. CME already operates several cryptocurrency futures and options markets, and the Nasdaq-linked index futures broaden that product set with a basket-based approach.
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