In a landmark expansion for the regulated digital asset market, CME Group has officially launched futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM). The new derivative products went live on Monday, February 9, 2026, marking a significant deepening of institutional access to the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Major Expansion of Regulated Crypto Products in 2026

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), the world's leading derivatives marketplace, has cemented its position as the premier bridge for traditional finance entering the crypto space. The launch of these three new contracts represents the exchange's aggressive push to provide sophisticated risk management tools for mid-cap assets that have demonstrated sustained market relevance and utility.

Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, emphasized the client-driven nature of this expansion. "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," Vicioso stated following the launch. "With these new micro- and larger-size Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar futures contracts, market participants will now have greater choice with enhanced flexibility and more capital-efficiencies."

Contract Details: Standard and Micro Options

To cater to a diverse range of market participants—from large hedge funds to active individual traders—CME Group has structured these new offerings with dual contract sizes. This approach mirrors the successful strategy used for their Bitcoin and Ether products, allowing for precise position sizing.

  • Cardano (ADA) Futures: The standard contract represents 100,000 ADA, while the Micro ADA contract covers 10,000 ADA.
  • Chainlink (LINK) Futures: Institutional traders can access standard contracts of 5,000 LINK, with Micro LINK futures sized at 250 LINK.
  • Stellar (XLM) Futures: The standard offering is for 250,000 XLM, complemented by a Micro XLM contract of 12,500 XLM.

These contracts are cash-settled, based on the CME CF Reference Rates, which have served as the industry standard for transparent pricing benchmarks since their inception. The availability of Stellar XLM institutional trading instruments specifically addresses the growing demand for payment-focused assets, while Chainlink LINK derivatives cater to the decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure sector.

Institutional Crypto Adoption Accelerates

The timing of this launch follows a record-breaking year for CME's digital asset division. Throughout 2025, the exchange reported an average daily volume (ADV) of approximately 278,300 contracts, translating to roughly $12 billion in notional value. This surge underscores a decisive shift: institutional capital is no longer just dipping a toe in; it is building permanent infrastructure.

Bob Fitzsimmons, Executive Vice President at Wedbush Securities, noted the significance of this maturity. "Wedbush recognizes the continued maturing of regulated crypto futures contract listings," he said. "We are happy to continue supporting CME Group's expansion of its product list, both for retail and institutional clients."

Preparing for 24/7 Trading

This product expansion serves as a precursor to an even bigger shift in market structure. CME Group has confirmed plans to introduce 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency suite starting in Q2 2026. This move will align the regulated derivatives market more closely with the always-on nature of the underlying spot crypto markets, eliminating the weekend gaps that have historically complicated risk management for professional traders.

Strategic Asset Selection: Why ADA, LINK, and XLM?

The selection of these three assets highlights CME's focus on utility and network longevity over fleeting market hype.

Cardano (ADA) continues to be a heavyweight in the smart contract arena, with a focus on academic rigor and security that appeals to institutional sensibilities. The Cardano ADA futures launch provides a regulated avenue for institutions to hedge exposure to one of the largest proof-of-stake networks.

Chainlink (LINK) remains the industry standard for oracle networks, connecting real-world data to blockchain smart contracts. As traditional finance (TradFi) increasingly explores tokenization, Chainlink's infrastructure becomes critical, making a regulated hedging instrument essential for banks and asset managers.

Stellar (XLM) has carved out a niche in cross-border payments and digital asset issuance. With its focus on banking the unbanked and facilitating low-cost transfers, it has maintained strong partnerships in the fintech world, driving the need for regulated crypto products 2026.

As the market digests this latest expansion, all eyes are now on the liquidity build-up for these new contracts. With competitors lagging in regulated offerings for altcoins, CME Group is poised to dominate the institutional market share for these assets, much as it has for Bitcoin and Ether.