ETH, SOL, XRP Reach New Highs as Institutional Demand Drives CME Crypto Options to $9B

Institutional Investors Drive CME Crypto Options to $9B as ETH, SOL, XRP Hit Records

Institutional participation in CME Group’s regulated crypto derivatives markets continues to climb, pushing ether (ETH $3,882.12), solana (SOL $189.70), and XRP futures and options to all-time highs, CME told CoinDesk on Thursday.

Since Oct. 10, open interest across CME’s crypto futures and options has jumped 27%, reflecting strong conviction among professional traders. The surge comes as some activity shifts away from offshore markets following last week’s liquidation events.

On Tuesday, ETH futures open interest reached 48,600 contracts, marking a new record. SOL and XRP futures also set all-time highs at 20,700 and 10,100 contracts, respectively. Options open interest climbed to $9 billion, underscoring growing use of regulated products for hedging and speculative strategies. CME’s Micro Ether futures ranked second in volume on the day, highlighting broad institutional engagement.

“The top 10 days for open interest have all occurred in October, showing both strong conviction and expanding participation in the regulated crypto derivatives market,” a CME spokesperson said.

This momentum builds on CME’s third-quarter performance, when combined crypto futures and options volumes topped $900 billion and average daily open interest reached $31.3 billion. Notional open interest peaked at $39 billion in September, with over 1,000 large holders active, indicating adoption beyond a niche group of traders.

Growth is not limited to bitcoin and ether. SOL and XRP futures, launched earlier this year, have drawn substantial attention. By September, SOL futures crossed $2.1 billion in open interest, while XRP futures reached $1.4 billion, reflecting expanding institutional demand across multiple crypto assets.