CME Group To Launch Cardano Chainlink And Stellar Futures on February 9

TLDR

• CME Group to offer ADA, LINK, and XLM futures starting February 9, pending CFTC approval.
• New futures come in standard and micro sizes to serve both large and small traders.
• ADA, LINK, and XLM prices remained steady after the announcement despite broader market decline.
• CME reported 139% growth in crypto futures volume in 2025, reaching 278,000 daily contracts.

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CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives exchange, has announced the launch of futures for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM). The contracts are expected to begin trading on February 9, pending regulatory approval. These new listings will expand access to regulated crypto products and support broader participation from both institutional and retail traders.

Expansion of Regulated Crypto Derivatives

CME Group has announced plans to introduce futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) on February 9. This will follow final regulatory approval from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The addition brings regulated crypto futures access to more digital assets beyond existing products like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP (XRP), and Solana (SOL).

The contracts will be offered in both standard and micro sizes. Standard contracts will include 100,000 ADA, 5,000 LINK, and 250,000 XLM, while micro contracts will include 10,000 ADA, 250 LINK, and 12,500 XLM. These products are designed to support a wide range of traders, including institutions and individuals with smaller capital.

Demand for Regulated Crypto Grows

The announcement comes after a strong year for CME Group’s crypto products in 2025. The company reported a 139% increase in average daily volume, reaching 278,000 contracts and a notional value of $12 billion. This growth reflects rising demand for regulated and transparent crypto trading options.

CME Group shared the news through a post on X, stating, “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.”

The move aims to increase market access and encourage wider adoption of crypto futures. It also supports better risk management strategies through regulated financial tools.

Price Reactions Remain Quiet

Despite the announcement, the prices of ADA, LINK, and XLM showed little movement. According to BeInCrypto, ADA fell by 2.2% to $0.39, LINK dipped 0.49% to $13.7, and XLM dropped 1.1% to $0.22. These declines matched the broader market, which saw a nearly 1% drop in total capitalization during the same period.

In earlier cases, the introduction of similar futures for XRP and Solana also saw muted price reactions. Analysts suggest the futures listings support longer-term development in market structure rather than driving immediate price increases.

Institutional Recognition and Broader Access

The planned listings are viewed as part of CME Group’s ongoing efforts to enhance access to digital assets through regulated markets. By offering futures for ADA, LINK, and XLM, CME is creating additional paths for institutions to participate in these networks.

Scopuly, a Stellar-based DeFi platform, commented, “What this means for Stellar: XLM gains institutional-grade recognition and legitimacy. Regulated futures open the door for hedge funds and asset managers. Stronger liquidity, risk management, and market maturity. Another bridge between TradFi and Stellar’s real-world blockchain utility.”

These developments are expected to contribute to the overall growth of the crypto derivatives sector, especially as financial institutions look for compliant ways to engage with blockchain assets.

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