CME Group Expands Crypto Suite: Cardano, Chainlink, Stellar Futures Launch February 9

CME Group announced plans to launch regulated futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) on February 9, 2026, pending regulatory approval.

Contract Specifications:

• Cardano: 100,000 ADA (standard) / 10,000 ADA (micro)
• Chainlink: 5,000 LINK (standard) / 250 LINK (micro)
• Stellar: 250,000 XLM (standard) / 12,500 XLM (micro)

Why This Matters for Traders:

This expansion comes after CME's crypto derivatives business recorded 139% year-over-year growth in 2025, with average daily volume reaching 278,000 contracts worth $12 billion.

The micro contracts are particularly interesting for smaller accounts. Micro ADA futures at 10,000 ADA give you regulated exposure without requiring massive capital. Same goes for the 250-LINK micro contract.

Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products: "Given crypto's record growth over the last year, clients are looking for trusted, regulated products to manage price risk as well as additional tools to gain exposure to this dynamic market."

NinjaTrader CEO Martin Franchi called it "a watershed moment for the futures industry."

These join CME's existing crypto suite including Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, and Solana futures and options.

Source: CME Group Press Release

-- Fi
"The market always finds a way to give institutional traders what they want."