CME Group broadens its crypto derivatives lineup with BCH and UNI futures, adding new altcoin exposure alongside growing trading volumes.
Rhea-AI Summary
CME Group (CME) plans to launch Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Uniswap (UNI) futures on October 19, pending regulatory review.
The offering will include standard and Micro contracts: Bitcoin Cash futures at 250 BCH and Micro Bitcoin Cash futures at 25 BCH, and Uniswap futures at 10,000 UNI with Micro Uniswap futures at 1,000 UNI. The company links the move to strong institutional demand for regulated, capital‑efficient tools to manage altcoin price risk within its 24/7 marketplace.
CME Group reports H1 2026 crypto futures and options average daily volume of 279,800 contracts ($8.3 billion notional) and average open interest of 264,600 contracts ($15.4 billion notional). New altcoin futures added in 2026 have contributed more than $1 billion in total notional value year‑to‑date.
Positive
- New BCH and UNI futures planned for October 19, pending review
- Multiple contract sizes for BCH and UNI (standard and Micro)
- H1 2026 crypto ADV of 279,800 contracts ($8.3 billion notional)
- H1 2026 average open interest of 264,600 contracts ($15.4 billion notional)
- 2026 new altcoin futures have added over $1 billion notional YTD
Negative
- None.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
The latest expansion of CME Group's cryptocurrency suite comes in response to strong client demand for institutional-grade risk management tools across high-liquidity altcoin markets.
Market participants will have the choice to trade both larger- and Micro-sized contracts:
- Bitcoin Cash futures (250 BCH) and Micro Bitcoin Cash futures (25 BCH)
- Uniswap futures (10,000 UNI) and Micro Uniswap futures (1,000 UNI)
"As crypto markets continue to mature, participants require broader, regulated tools to navigate evolving digital asset related price risk," said Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, CME Group. "Designed for greater versatility and capital efficiency, these new BCH and UNI contracts allow clients to manage price risk and gain exposure to key crypto networks within our 24/7, regulated marketplace."
"The addition of Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures marks another important step in the continued expansion of CME Group's crypto futures offering," said Justin Young, CEO and Co-Founder of Volatility Shares. "It gives market participants more ways to access these assets within a regulated futures framework, while providing additional tools to manage risk and express market views. We're excited to see this continued growth and pleased to be part of it."
"Institutions managing cryptocurrency exposure need around-the-clock access to regulated derivatives, underpinned by the clearing and financing infrastructure to match," said Noel Kimmel, President at Ripple Prime. "With the addition of Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures to the existing set of XRP, Bitcoin and other products, CME Group's cryptocurrency complex continues to lead the way in delivering capital-efficient risk management tools for market participants."
The new contracts further expand the company's extensive single asset Cryptocurrency product suite, which includes Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, Stellar, Avalanche, and Sui futures. Trading highlights include:
- H1 2026 futures and options average daily volume (ADV) of 279,800 contracts (notional) and average open interest (OI) of 264,600 contracts ($8.3 billionnotional)$15.4 billion
- The 2026 expansion into Cardano, Chainlink, Stellar, Avalanche, and Sui futures has contributed more than in total notional value year-to-date$1 billion
The Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures are listed on and subject to the rules of CME. For more information on these products, please visit here.
As the world's leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, cryptocurrencies, energy, agricultural products and metals. The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform. In addition, it operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing.
CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CBOT and
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FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What contract sizes will CME Group offer for the new Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures?
Bitcoin Cash futures will be listed in two sizes: a standard contract of 250 BCH and a Micro contract of 25 BCH. Uniswap futures will also have two sizes: a standard contract of 10,000 UNI and a Micro contract of 1,000 UNI.
When will the Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures start trading?
The Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures are planned to launch on October 19, and this timing is pending regulatory review.
How do these new contracts fit into CME Group's existing crypto product suite?
The Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures expand CME Group's single‑asset cryptocurrency suite, which already includes futures on Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, Stellar, Avalanche, and Sui.
What recent trading activity metrics did CME Group disclose for its crypto derivatives?
For the first half of 2026, CME Group reports crypto futures and options average daily volume of 279,800 contracts with notional value of $8.3 billion, and average open interest of 264,600 contracts with notional value of $15.4 billion.
What impact have CME Group's 2026 altcoin futures expansions had so far?
The 2026 expansion into Cardano, Chainlink, Stellar, Avalanche, and Sui futures has contributed more than $1 billion in total notional value year‑to‑date.