#CMEToLaunchNasdaqCryptoIndexFutures FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CME Group to Launch Nasdaq Crypto Index Futures, Expanding Institutional Access to Digital Assets

CHICAGO / NEW YORK – [Current Date] – CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, today announced plans to introduce futures contracts on the Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI), subject to regulatory review. The new product is scheduled to launch on February 28, 2026, marking a major step in bridging traditional finance with the rapidly maturing cryptocurrency ecosystem.

The Nasdaq Crypto Index is a rules-based, market-cap weighted index designed to track the performance of the largest and most liquid digital assets listed on approved Nasdaq crypto exchanges. By offering regulated futures tied to this benchmark, CME Group aims to provide institutional investors with a transparent, efficient, and capital-efficient tool for gaining broad-based exposure to the crypto asset class.

Key Features of the New Contracts

· Contract Size: 1 USD × Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI)
· Underlying Index: Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI) — currently comprising Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and select top-tier cryptocurrencies
· Trading Venue: CME Globex, 23 hours a day, 5 days a week
· Settlement: Cash-settled, based on the official NCI closing value
· Margin Efficiency: Portfolio margining with existing CME crypto and traditional futures products

Bridging Crypto and Traditional Finance

“Institutional demand for regulated, benchmark-driven crypto products continues to grow,” said Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group. “By combining CME’s trusted futures infrastructure with Nasdaq’s rigorous index methodology, we are delivering a first-of-its-kind product that allows investors to gain diversified, rules-based exposure to the crypto market without the complexity of direct custody or multiple futures positions.”

The launch arrives as asset managers, pensions, and hedge funds increasingly seek streamlined access to digital assets. Unlike single-crypto futures, the Nasdaq Crypto Index Futures offer a diversified basket approach, reducing single-asset volatility and simplifying portfolio construction.

Nasdaq’s Perspective

Greg Ferrari, Vice President and Head of Nasdaq’s Index Business, commented: “The Nasdaq Crypto Index was built to the same exacting standards as our global equity indices. Seeing CME Group, the premier derivatives exchange, adopt NCI for regulated futures trading validates the index’s robustness and the maturation of crypto as an asset class. Together, we are enabling the next generation of market participation.”

Industry Implications

Analysts expect the product to accelerate institutional participation by providing:

· Regulatory clarity through a CFTC-regulated exchange
· Operational ease — no crypto wallets or private keys required
· Capital efficiency via margin offsets across correlated assets
· Transparent pricing based on real-time NCI data

Availability

Upon launch, the futures will be available to all CME Group members and eligible clients via major brokerage and clearing platforms globally.

About CME Group:
As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group offers the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including cryptocurrencies via regulated futures and options.

About Nasdaq:
Nasdaq is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Its index business calculates over 40,000 indices daily, including the Nasdaq Crypto Index.