CME Group is expanding its crypto derivatives lineup with new futures for Avalanche (AVAX) and Sui (SUI), aiming to boost choice and flexibility for traders as the exchange prepares for a major move to round‑the‑clock trading.
Pending regulatory approval, the contracts — offered in both micro- and larger-sized formats — are slated to begin trading on May 4. The micro contracts are designed to give smaller traders and hedgers lower-cost access, while the larger contracts suit institutional participants and high-volume market makers.
“Our new micro- and larger-sized Avalanche and Sui futures will provide clients with greater choice, enhanced flexibility and more capital efficiencies across our deeply liquid, regulated crypto derivatives complex,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME’s Global Head of Crypto Products. He noted healthy activity on the platform: March average daily volume was up 19% year‑over‑year, with nearly $8 billion in average notional value traded daily.
AVAX and SUI will join a growing roster of altcoin futures that CME has added this year — Cardano (ADA), Stellar (XLM) and Chainlink (LINK) — alongside its existing Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana futures and options. Market participants and vendors welcomed the additions: “These new contracts further broaden access for our global customers, allowing them to participate in evolving markets with greater flexibility and improved capital efficiency,” said Isaac Cahana, CEO of licensed futures provider Plus500US.
The May 4 launch would come just weeks before CME’s bigger operational shift: the exchange plans to move options and futures on crypto products to 24/7 trading starting May 29, opening continuous access that mirrors crypto spot markets. That change is intended to improve price discovery and risk management across time zones.
CME has been expanding its footprint in the digital-asset space beyond derivatives. Earlier this year the firm said it was exploring “different initiatives with our own coin” for decentralized networks, and it is also working on a “tokenized cash initiative” with Google, with additional product rollouts anticipated later in the year. CME’s crypto volumes have surged: the exchange reported record activity last year, exceeding $13 billion in notional volumes traded per day.
If approved, the AVAX and SUI futures will further deepen regulated avenues for trading popular smart-contract networks, offering both retail and institutional players more options to hedge, speculate and gain exposure to the evolving crypto landscape.
Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news
