CME Group to Launch Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Futures on February 9

In Brief

• CME to launch ADA, LINK, and XLM futures on Feb 9, pending regulatory approval.
• New contracts include both micro and standard sizes for increased flexibility.
• ADA, LINK, and XLM show mixed short-term trends but post weekly price gains.

CME Group will introduce futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) on February 9. The launch, pending regulatory approval, reflects increasing demand for regulated cryptocurrency products among both retail and institutional investors.

The new contracts will include both standard and micro-sized options to offer more flexibility and capital efficiency for market participants. This move will coincide with the start of 24/7 trading in CME’s $39 billion cryptocurrency market.

These additions follow CME’s steady expansion in digital asset offerings, which already include Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, and Solana futures and options. CME launched Bitcoin futures in December 2017 and Ether futures in February 2021, signalling early adoption of major cryptocurrencies.

The upcoming ADA, LINK, and XLM futures will feature varied contract sizes to suit different investment strategies and risk profiles. Investors will gain more tools to manage price volatility and increase exposure within a regulated environment.

Market participants have welcomed the expansion as a sign of crypto’s growing role in global trading portfolios. CME aims to support this evolution by providing trusted products that align with market demands.

Executives from Wedbush Securities, NinjaTrader, and Volatility Shares highlighted the importance of regulated instruments in a maturing crypto market. These developments suggest broader institutional interest in crypto derivatives and a growing appetite for risk-managed exposure.

Weekly Gains Amid Short-Term Pressure

Cardano (ADA) trades at $0.4023, showing a 0.47% hourly dip and a 4.10% 24-hour decline, yet gaining 3.94% weekly. Chainlink (LINK) holds at $14.01, down 0.71% in the past hour and 0.76% in 24 hours, but up 6.85% this week.

Stellar (XLM) stands at $0.2309, falling 0.81% hourly and 4.82% daily, while posting a 1.57% seven-day gain. These trends indicate short-term pressure but strong weekly recovery across the three digital assets.