Growing institutional interest propels CME Group to debut Solana and XRP future options
The CME Group, the world's largest derivatives exchange, has announced plans to launch options on Solana and XRP futures starting October 13, 2025, pending regulatory approval. This move reflects high liquidity in Solana and XRP futures, as stated by Giovanni Vicioso, the Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products for the CME Group.
The new products will allow traders to access options on Solana, Micro Solana, XRP, and Micro XRP futures. This expansion is in response to the growing demand from institutions, hedge funds, and active retail traders.
In recent months, both Solana and XRP futures have seen significant growth. Solana futures hit a record of 9,000 contracts in August, worth $437 million, while XRP futures recorded an average daily volume of 6,600 contracts worth $385 million last month. XRP futures have seen over 370,000 contracts traded, representing $16.2 billion in notional value, and open interest for XRP futures climbed to 9,300 contracts, valued at $942 million. Open interest for Solana futures reached a record 12,500 contracts.
The CME Group's Solana and XRP futures will be available through the CME Globex platform and cleared by CME Clearing. These new contracts will provide additional tools for risk management and exposure strategies, as Vicioso also noted.
Cumberland, one of the leading liquidity providers, has welcomed the development and highlighted the shift beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. FalconX, another trading firm, added that rising digital asset treasuries are increasing the need for hedging tools on alternative tokens like Solana and XRP.
The launch of these options comes amid optimism for ETF approval and growing interest in Solana and XRP. In July, CME's XRP futures reached a high, setting a new peak record in August. The SOL price traded at $234.80, down 0.93% on the day, after closing the previous session at $237.01, while the XRP price traded at $3.02, slipping 0.58% on the day.
This move by the CME Group is a significant step forward in the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies and their derivatives. It underscores the growing importance of altcoins like Solana and XRP in the global financial market.
