The world's largest derivatives exchange—the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group—is about to bring a new wave of "institutionalization" to the crypto market. On January 16, 2026, CME Group officially announced that, subject to regulatory approval, it will launch futures contracts for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar on February 9, 2026. This marks a significant step in mainstream financial institutions' recognition of altcoins and also provides a new, regulated risk management tool for a broader range of investors.
Why ADA, LINK, and XLM? Analyzing CME's selection logic
The three new underlying assets added by CME Group are no coincidence; they each represent core values and applications of blockchain across different sectors.
- Cardano: As a third-generation blockchain platform that prioritizes research, emphasizes peer review, and formal verification,