TLDR
- CME Group will launch options on Solana and XRP futures on October 13, 2025, pending regulatory approval
- This marks CME’s first options expansion beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum into other cryptocurrencies
- Over 540,000 Solana futures contracts worth $22.3 billion have traded since March launch
- More than 370,000 XRP futures contracts worth $16.2 billion have traded since May launch
- The products will offer daily, monthly, and quarterly expiries for both standard and micro-sized contracts
CME Group announced plans to launch options on Solana and XRP futures contracts starting October 13, 2025. The move requires regulatory approval before implementation.
The Chicago-based exchange will offer options on both standard and micro-sized SOL and XRP futures contracts. Traders will have access to daily, monthly, and quarterly expiration dates.
This represents the first time CME has expanded its options offerings beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The exchange already offers futures contracts for both cryptocurrencies.
Giovanni Vicioso, CME’s global head of cryptocurrency products, cited growing liquidity in existing futures markets as the reason for expansion. The new products target institutional and individual traders.
Strong Trading Performance Drives Expansion
Solana futures have shown strong performance since their March 17 launch. More than 540,000 contracts worth $22.3 billion in notional value have traded on the platform.
August 2025 marked a record month for Solana futures trading. The contracts averaged 9,000 trades daily with $437.4 million in notional value.
XRP futures launched on May 19 and have also gained traction. Over 370,000 contracts worth $16.2 billion in notional value have changed hands since launch.
The XRP contracts set records in August with 6,600 average daily trades worth $385 million. Open interest reached $942 million during the same period.
Cumberland Options Trading and FalconX expressed support for the new products. Both companies highlighted growing institutional demand for cryptocurrency hedging tools.
Broader US Market Trend
The first regulated crypto derivatives appeared in the US in December 2017. Both CME Group and the Chicago Board Options Exchange launched Bitcoin futures under CFTC oversight.
CME introduced Ethereum futures in 2021, followed by micro-sized contracts. Until recently, regulated crypto derivatives remained limited to these two assets.
Growing Competition
Other exchanges have expanded their crypto offerings this year. Coinbase launched Solana futures in February and acquired options exchange Deribit.
Kraken started its US derivatives operations in July. Robinhood rolled out micro futures for Bitcoin, Solana, and XRP through its derivatives division.
Global crypto derivatives open interest currently holds near $4 billion according to CoinMarketCap data. The CME options launch adds to this growing market segment.
