CME Expands Crypto Futures Lineup With Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap
CME Group said it will add Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap single-asset futures to its regulated lineup on October 19, subject to regulatory approval, offering both standard and Micro contract sizes. The new products—250 BCH (Micro: 25 BCH) and 10,000 UNI (Micro: 1,000 UNI)—build on the exchange's recent wave of altcoin futures rollouts.
Why It Matters
The listings continue CME's strategy of broadening regulated derivatives tied to major crypto networks, expanding tools for institutional and professional participants to manage price exposure within a cleared venue. The move follows earlier additions this year and occurs as the exchange reports substantial trading volumes and open interest across its crypto complex.
Key Facts
- Planned launch date: October 19, pending regulatory review
- Bitcoin Cash contract sizes: Standard: 250 BCH; Micro: 25 BCH
- Uniswap contract sizes: Standard: 10,000 UNI; Micro: 1,000 UNI
- CME average daily crypto futures and options (H1 2026): 279,800 contracts; $8.3 billion in notional volume
- Average open interest (H1 2026): 264,600 contracts; $15.4 billion notional value equivalent},{
CME Group announced plans to add Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap single-asset futures to its regulated product roster, with trading slated to begin October 19 if regulatory clearance is granted. Each asset will be available in both standard and Micro contract formats: Bitcoin Cash contracts cover 250 BCH (Micro: 25 BCH), while Uniswap contracts represent 10,000 UNI (Micro: 1,000 UNI).
The decision expands a program of altcoin listings the exchange pursued earlier in 2026. In February CME introduced Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar futures, and in April it announced Avalanche and Sui contracts that went live on May 4. Those recent additions, CME said, accounted for more than $1 billion in total notional value year-to-date.
CME highlighted the size and activity of its crypto derivatives business as context for the new launches: futures and options averaged 279,800 contracts per day in the first half of 2026, equal to $8.3 billion in notional volume, with average open interest at 264,600 contracts (about $15.4 billion). Exchange executives framed the new products as capital-efficient ways for market participants to obtain regulated exposure to prominent crypto networks within a cleared trading environment.
Market prices at the time of the announcement showed Bitcoin Cash trading near $338 per coin with an approximate $6 billion market capitalization, while Uniswap’s UNI was around $9.28 with a market cap near $5.75 billion. Industry figures responding to the launch characterized it as part of a broader institutional push for around-the-clock, regulated derivatives and related clearing and financing infrastructure.
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