Nasdaq and CME relaunch crypto index to meet rising demand for trusted benchmarks

Key Takeaways

• Nasdaq and CME rebranded their joint crypto index to support institutional demand for transparent benchmarks.
• The Nasdaq CME Crypto Index will serve as a foundation for regulated ETFs and diversified crypto strategies.

Nasdaq and CME Group have reintroduced the Nasdaq Crypto Index under a new name, the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index (NCI), aiming to provide institutions with a regulated, transparent benchmark for digital asset exposure.

The relaunch comes as demand grows for governance and transparency in crypto investing. The NCI is calculated by CF Benchmarks and built on vetted exchanges and custodians, overseen by a joint governance committee. It supports the development of ETFs, structured products, and managed funds.

Nasdaq’s Sean Wasserman said the shift reflects how investors are moving beyond single-asset exposure toward broader index-based strategies.

The index expands on a nearly 30-year Nasdaq–CME partnership and underpins over $1 billion in assets globally, including the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF (NCIQ) in the US.