CME Group and Nasdaq are launching crypto index futures, with trading scheduled to begin on June 8 pending regulatory approval. The Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures will be CME’s first market-cap weighted futures contract in digital assets.

Rather than buying individual Bitcoin or Ether futures, institutional investors will be able to trade a single contract that tracks the seven largest crypto assets by market capitalization. The basket currently includes Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Lumens.

CME’s crypto derivatives growth

CME’s average daily trading volume hit 407,200 contracts in early 2026, a 46% jump from the prior year. Year-to-date volumes across the entire crypto suite…