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Institutional demand for crypto derivatives surged late last year as regulated trading venues captured record futures, options, and spot-quoted activity, signaling deeper liquidity, broader participation, and accelerating momentum heading into 2026.
$3T Crypto Activity on CME Confirms the Bull Case Is Getting Stronger
Institutional participation in regulated crypto derivatives strengthened toward year-end. That momentum was evident across listed products, according to a report by CME Group on Jan. 27, 2026, detailing record fourth-quarter activity. The figures reflected rising volume, open interest, and product usage.
Trading activity across CME Group’s cryptocurrency offerings expanded significantly during 2025 as participation widened and liquidity strengthened. The report noted:
“Our Crypto suite saw massive expansion in 2025. We facilitated nearly $3T notional in cryptocurrency futures and options trading, with average daily volume (ADV) more than doubling to 280K contracts ($12B) and average daily open interest (ADOI) climbing to 313K ($26B).”
Growth intensified in the fourth quarter, with average daily volume rising 92% from a year earlier and open interest more than doubling as market participants increasingly migrated toward regulated venues. Institutional engagement deepened further in October, when large open interest holders reached a record level, signaling a broader and more diversified user base. Ether derivatives played a central role in this advance as combined ether and micro ether futures open interest reached an all-time high in late November, alongside a concurrent peak in ether options positioning.
Product diversification emerged as another defining theme of the quarter as alternative crypto derivatives gained traction. The report explained: “Responding to market demand for diversified, regulated exposure, our Solana ( SOL) and $XRP product suite set multiple records in Q4.”
$XRP activity stood out in particular, with the document specifying:
“ $XRP futures and options: Reached an OI of almost $1.5B on October 28, with trading volume totaling $21.5B.”
Spot-quoted futures also reached new highs following December launches for solana and $XRP contracts, complementing record monthly volume in spot-quoted bitcoin futures. Looking ahead, the report concluded, “Our innovation in Q4 set the stage for 2026. Now, more than ever, we are focused on providing global participants with the tools needed for a non-stop market,” pointing to volatility benchmarks, expanded trading-at-settlement functionality, additional crypto futures listings, and the transition toward 24/7 trading.