CME announces 2025 annual and Q4 data: Cryptocurrency derivatives trading volume soars 139%, reaching a new all-time high

CME Group announced its market statistics for the full year and Q4 of 2025, with several data points reaching all-time highs.

This leading global derivatives exchange saw its overall daily average trading volume of cryptocurrencies surge by 139% for the year, reaching a record 278,000 contracts with a notional value of up to $12 billion.

Performance in Q4 was even stronger, with an overall daily average of 379,000 contracts (notional value of $13.3 billion), setting a quarterly record.

01 Yearly Data Highlights

CME Group achieved a comprehensive breakthrough in 2025, with an overall daily average trading volume of 28.1 million contracts, up 6% from 2024, marking a new annual high.

Cryptocurrency derivatives became one of the fastest-growing asset classes, with daily average trading volume increasing by an astonishing 139% from a low base in 2024.

This growth pushed the daily average of cryptocurrency contracts to 278,000, with a notional value of $120 billion, demonstrating sustained interest from institutional investors in cryptocurrencies.

Traditional asset classes also performed well, with interest rate products increasing by 4% to 14.2 million contracts daily, energy products growing by 8% to 2.7 million contracts, and metal products soaring by 34% to 988,000 contracts.

02 Micro Contracts Drive Institutional Adoption

CME’s micro cryptocurrency contracts performed exceptionally well in 2025, becoming a key tool for institutional investors entering the crypto market.

The annual daily average of micro Ethereum futures reached 144,000 contracts, setting an annual record. Micro Bitcoin futures also kept pace, with a daily average of 75,000 contracts, also hitting a new annual high.

These micro contracts offer institutional investors lower entry barriers and more precise risk management tools. Each micro Bitcoin futures contract represents only 0.1 Bitcoin, and micro Ethereum futures also represent just 0.1 Ethereum.

Standard-sized Ethereum futures also performed strongly, with a daily average of 19,000 contracts, setting an annual record. This indicates that both large institutions and small to medium investors are actively using CME’s crypto derivatives for risk management and investment.

03 Accelerated Growth in Q4

In Q4 2025, CME’s cryptocurrency derivatives trading further accelerated, with an overall daily average of 379,000 contracts (notional value of $13.3 billion), setting a quarterly record.

Micro Bitcoin futures in Q4 reached a daily average of 89,000 contracts, setting a quarterly record. Micro Ethereum futures performed even better, with a 164% year-over-year surge to 201,000 contracts daily.

Standard Ethereum futures also maintained strong growth in Q4, with a 137% YoY increase to 22,000 contracts daily. This growth trend indicates increasing institutional interest in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Even amid heightened volatility in traditional financial markets, crypto derivatives continued to grow robustly, demonstrating that this asset class is gradually becoming an important part of institutional portfolios.

04 Comparison with Other Asset Classes

Although crypto derivatives grew rapidly, they still account for a small portion of CME’s overall business. In 2025, CME’s total daily average trading volume across all asset classes was 28.1 million contracts.

Interest rate products remain CME’s largest segment, with a daily average of 14.2 million contracts, accounting for over half of total volume. Equity index products had a daily average of 7.4 million contracts, up 8%.

CME 2025 Key Data Growth Comparison

It’s noteworthy that although crypto derivatives only make up about 1% of total volume, their 139% growth rate far exceeds that of other asset classes. This rapid growth indicates that cryptocurrencies are quickly gaining recognition and adoption among traditional financial institutions.

05 Market Impact and Gate Opportunities

The record-breaking growth in CME’s crypto derivatives trading volume reflects increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as an asset class among institutional investors. This trend has profound implications for the entire crypto market.

As a regulated traditional exchange, CME’s crypto derivatives provide important price discovery and risk management tools. An increasing number of institutional investors are participating in the crypto market through these instruments, enhancing market liquidity and maturity.

For Gate users, this trend signifies more market opportunities. With institutional capital flowing in, volatility and liquidity in the crypto market may change, offering new trading opportunities.

CME’s success also confirms the enormous potential of the crypto derivatives market. As a leading global crypto exchange, Gate offers users a rich selection of spot and derivatives trading options, helping them seize opportunities in this rapidly evolving market.

As traditional financial institutions continue to enter the crypto space through regulated channels, platforms like Gate will play an increasingly important role in connecting traditional finance with the crypto world.