Solana Futures to Debut on CME Group as Institutional Demand for Crypto Derivatives Surges

CME Group Expands Crypto Offerings With Solana Futures Launch in March

CME Group, the world’s top derivatives marketplace, is set to roll out Solana (SOL) futures on March 17, broadening its cryptocurrency product lineup. The new contracts, currently awaiting regulatory approval, will be available in two sizes—25 SOL and 500 SOL—giving traders greater flexibility in managing price exposure.

“With the addition of SOL futures, we’re addressing rising institutional demand for regulated digital asset derivatives,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products.

The contracts will be cash-settled, using the CME CF Solana-Dollar Reference Rate to determine pricing based on daily market activity. CME has already seen remarkable growth in its crypto derivatives, with bitcoin and ether futures averaging 202,000 daily contracts this year—marking a 73% jump from 2024.

Market analysts believe the launch of Solana futures is a pivotal step toward mainstream adoption. According to Teddy Fusaro, president of Bitwise Asset Management, CME’s crypto futures have historically laid the groundwork for regulated investment products, including ETFs. Meanwhile, Kyle Samani of Multicoin Capital emphasized that institutional traders now have another tool to manage risk efficiently.

As Solana continues to gain traction in the crypto space, some experts suggest that the introduction of regulated futures could bolster the case for a Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF).

“SOL futures trading on CME strengthens the likelihood of a Solana spot ETF being approved,” said Sui Chung, CEO of CF Benchmarks.

He added that while the SEC will likely monitor trading activity before making a decision, CME’s move represents a significant step toward greater institutional acceptance of Solana.