CME and Nasdaq launch a multi-coin crypto index future

A Single Contract for the Broader Crypto Market

@CMEGroup and Nasdaq have officially launched Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures, taking the world's largest derivatives exchange beyond single-coin contracts and into basket trading. The launch was announced on June 9, 2026, with trading now underway, giving participants a way to gain exposure to a basket of leading cryptocurrencies through a single, regulated contract.

The futures are CME's first-ever market-cap weighted contract, available in both micro-sized and larger-sized formats. As of June 9, the index includes $BTC and bitcoin cash, $ETH, $SOL, $XRP, $ADA, Chainlink, and Stellar Lumens. Current weightings skew heavily toward Bitcoin at 76.96%, followed by Ethereum at 12.68%, XRP at 5.80%, and Solana at 3.23%.

Both the full-size NCI contract and the micro-sized MCI contract are financially settled against the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Settlement (NCIS), a daily settlement version of the index. The index itself recalculates in real time, 24/7, reflecting the fact that crypto markets never close.

Capital Efficiency and the Institutional Angle

The contracts are designed to provide market participants with a capital-efficient way to gain exposure to the top cryptocurrencies by market cap through a single, financially settled instrument. CME framed the product squarely at institutional users looking to hedge or build diversified crypto positions without managing multiple contract positions. Previously, hedging a diversified crypto portfolio required multiple positions across different futures contracts, each with its own margin requirements and roll schedules.

CME noted that demand for regulated cryptocurrency futures continues to increase, with average daily volume in its suite up 43% year-to-date. Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group, said that with trading now underway, the product represents "a major milestone in the expansion of our regulated digital asset marketplace."

For retail traders, the MCI micro contract with its $1 multiplier represents one of the most accessible on-ramps to regulated, diversified crypto trading.

Sources:
CME Group Official Press Release: Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Futures
PR Newswire: CME Group Announces Launch of Nasdaq CME Crypto Index Futures
Crypto Briefing: CME Group Takes Crypto Index Futures Campaign to the Big Screen