- CME open interest in XRP and Solana futures reached about $3 billion, a new high.
- SOL futures launched in March 2025 and crossed $1 billion OI in August; XRP futures hit $1 billion OI within three months of launch.
- CME rolled out options on XRP and Solana futures, with first trades on Oct. 12–13 by Wintermute, Superstate, Cumberland DRW, and Galaxy.
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has recorded an all-time high in open interest for its Solana (SOL) and XRP futures. This highlights accelerating institutional and retail participation in regulated crypto derivatives.
The combined open interest for the two altcoin contracts reached approximately $3 billion, the highest level since their listings.
Record Demand For Regulated Altcoin Derivatives
According to CME data, Monday’s session saw 9,900 active XRP and micro-XRP futures contracts.
This ran alongside 15,600 Solana and micro-Solana positions, reflecting increased trading activity. This high watermark extends the exchange’s momentum as traders seek exposure in regulated U.S. markets.
Related: Altcoins Gain Traction as Crypto Market Diversifies
XRP and Solana Futures Surpass Billion-Dollar Benchmarks
CME introduced its Solana futures in March 2025, with the standard contract representing 500 SOL. The product surpassed the $1 billion notional open interest level by August. XRP futures, launched later, reached the same mark just three months after debut. Both instruments have since gained traction among asset managers and proprietary trading firms, as they adjust portfolios amid expanded digital-asset coverage.
Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Equity and FX Products, spoke during the Token2049 conference in Dubai. He noted that the growth of regulated crypto derivatives shows “consistent demand from investors using futures to manage risk and gain exposure to the broader market.”
Options Arrive To Deepen Hedging And Strategy
The record in open interest follows CME’s launch of options on XRP and Solana futures, expanding its cryptocurrency derivatives portfolio beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The exchange confirmed that clients can now trade options on SOL, Micro-SOL, XRP, and Micro-XRP futures, with daily, monthly, and quarterly expirations available.
The first XRP options trade occurred on October 12, conducted between Wintermute and Superstate. Cumberland DRW and Galaxy completed the first Solana options trade on October 13.
Giovanni Vicioso, CME’s Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, stated that deep liquidity in these markets provides participants “additional tools for hedging and strategy development.” Executives from Wintermute and Superstate described the listings as a natural extension of listed crypto derivatives, offering institutions more flexibility in managing digital-asset exposure.
Related: Coinbase Derivatives Lists Nano-Sized XRP and Solana Perpetual Futures
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