CME Expands Altcoin Futures With ADA, LINK, and XLM Launch

Crypto News Cryptocurrencies

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Key Takeaways

CME Group will introduce futures for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar on February 9, pending approval;
The new contracts expand CME’s crypto lineup, which already includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana;
Smaller “micro” contract options aim to make regulated crypto futures more accessible to retail traders.

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CME Expands Altcoin Futures With ADA, LINK, and XLM Launch

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CME Group, a derivatives exchange based in Chicago, plans to expand its cryptocurrency products by adding futures contracts for Cardano ADA $0.3915 , Chainlink LINK $13.73 , and Stellar XLM $0.2255 .

The company announced that these contracts are expected to go live on February 9, pending regulatory approval.

Once approved, the new listings will join CME’s existing lineup of crypto futures and options already linked to Bitcoin BTC $95,291.48 , Ethereum ETH $3,298.64 , XRP XRP $2.06 , and Solana SOL $143.04 .

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CME said its goal is to meet the growing demand for regulated crypto investments, especially among traders seeking exposure to digital assets without holding the tokens directly.

Futures contracts allow investors to speculate on price changes or manage risk without having to store the underlying cryptocurrency.

Both standard and smaller “micro” contracts will be available for each asset. The proposed sizes range from 10,000 to 100,000 ADA, 250 to 5,000 LINK, and 12,500 to 250,000 XLM.

Offering smaller contract sizes can make these products more accessible to individual traders, depending on broker support.

According to Martin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader, cryptocurrencies are becoming a regular part of investor portfolios. He said the new CME listings show the demand for regulated crypto futures and more product options for traders.

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