CME Crypto Futures Volume Hits Record 795K Contracts Amid Volatility

CME Group broke its single-day file for cryptocurrency futures and choices buying and selling by registering 794,903 contracts on Nov. 21, the corporate stated. The spike, which surpasses the earlier file set in August, highlights a surge in demand for regulated crypto derivatives at a time of elevated market volatility.

The Chicago-based alternate has seen exercise in its crypto suite soar in 2025, fueled by each institutional gamers and retail traders. Giovanni Vicioso, CME’s international head of cryptocurrency merchandise, stated the rise displays rising curiosity in instruments that assist handle threat in an unpredictable market.

“Amid continued market uncertainty, demand for extremely liquid, regulated crypto threat administration instruments is rising,” he stated.

The contracts signify belongings resembling bitcoin BTC$88,700.64 and ether ETH$2,968.95and merchants use them to hedge in opposition to value fluctuations or speculate on future actions with out holding the underlying tokens. For instance, a hedge fund anticipating a downturn in bitcoin may quick CME’s bitcoin futures to restrict losses on spot positions.

CME’s year-to-date crypto common day by day quantity (ADV) now stands at 270,900 contracts, valued at $12 billion in notional phrases, up 132% in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months. Open curiosity, or the variety of contracts excellent, rose 82% year-over-year to 299,700 contracts, with a complete notional worth of $26.6 billion.

Within the fourth quarter alone, common day by day quantity so far is up 106% in comparison with the identical interval in 2024, reaching 403,200 contracts with a notional worth of $14.2 billion. Open curiosity for a similar interval grew by 117%, reaching a complete of 493,700 contracts price $35.4 billion.

The rise in buying and selling quantity signifies that extra traders are in search of regulated publicity to crypto markets, at the same time as uncertainty stays. CME Group, which launched its bitcoin futures in 2017, has steadily expanded its crypto providing to fulfill this demand.