January Crypto Trading on CME Soars 180%, Reaching Historic Highs

CME Crypto Futures Trading Hits Record in January, Led by Micro Contracts

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME) reported a record-setting month in January, with its cryptocurrency contracts reaching an average daily volume (ADV) of 198,000 and a total notional value of $13.6 billion.

In its latest press release, the CME highlighted a significant year-over-year growth of 180% in crypto ADV. The growth was primarily driven by strong performances from micro bitcoin (BTC) futures, which saw a remarkable 255% increase, while micro ether (ETH) futures rose by 223%.

CME’s micro futures contracts, which are just 0.1 of a bitcoin or ether, offer more accessible and flexible trading options compared to their standard counterparts (5 BTC and 50 ETH), making them attractive to traders looking for more precise exposure and risk management.

Alongside these futures contracts, CME also offers options on bitcoin and ether futures, allowing traders to craft more advanced strategies to manage their risk exposure. These options give traders the flexibility to buy or sell futures at a predetermined price on or before a specified date.

In January, CME’s total ADV across all contracts reached 25.7 million. The exchange also announced plans to launch options on Bitcoin Friday Futures (BFF) starting February 24, pending regulatory approval.