CME Group to Launch Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Crypto Futures

• CME Group to launch ADA, LINK, and XLM futures February 9 with CFTC regulation.
• Contracts are available in standard and micro sizes for institutional and retail.
• Analyst notes expanded institutional accessibility and capital-efficient exposure.

CME Group will introduce futures contracts for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar on February 9, 2026, expanding its cryptocurrency derivatives portfolio. The Chicago-based derivatives marketplace operates as the world’s leading derivatives exchange processing over $10 trillion in total notional volume daily.

The products carry Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulation, providing institutional investors with compliant exposure to alternative cryptocurrency assets. CME posted on X that “Our crypto product suite is growing with new Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar futures. Available in both larger and micro sizes, these contracts will offer the capital efficiency and versatility to expand your strategy.”

Contract Specifications Enable Diverse Participation

Cardano futures will cover 100,000 ADA tokens in standard contracts with Micro ADA futures sized at 10,000 tokens. Chainlink contracts encompass 5,000 LINK tokens in standard form, while Micro LINK futures contain 250 tokens. Stellar futures cover 250,000 Lumens with Micro Lumens contracts sized at 12,500 tokens.

The dual sizing structure accommodates both institutional capital and retail participation. Standard contracts provide exposure levels suitable for large-scale hedging or speculation, while micro versions enable smaller position sizes without requiring margin commitments that exclude individual traders.

All products will settle in cash and trade on CME’s regulated futures platform. This structure removes custody requirements that complicate physical delivery and makes the contracts operationally simpler for traditional finance participants unfamiliar with digital asset infrastructure.

Expansion of Institutional Accessibility

Analyst Zach Rynes shared the implications of the Chainlink futures launch on X. “What does the upcoming launch of CFTC-regulated LINK futures contracts on CME Group mean? Expanded institutional accessibility, capital-efficient exposure, basis trade arbitrage with ETFs, deepened onshore liquidity & volume, and validation of LINK as a commodity,” Rynes stated.

The regulatory designation as commodities under CFTC jurisdiction provides clarity for institutions operating under strict compliance frameworks. Many asset managers face restrictions preventing direct cryptocurrency purchases, but can access CFTC-regulated derivatives through existing brokerage relationships.

CME’s crypto product lineup previously included Bitcoin futures launched in December 2017, followed by Ether futures in February 2021. The exchange added XRP and Solana futures plus options contracts late last year. It processes an average daily crypto derivatives volume of $12 billion across 28 million contracts traded during 2025. Additionally, the exchange will also launch 100-ounce silver futures contracts on February 9, financially settled based on the daily settlement price of the global benchmark silver futures contract listed on COMEX.

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