CME Group Expands Crypto Futures with Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar

CME Group, a leading derivatives exchange, is set to introduce futures contracts for Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and Stellar (XLM) as part of its initiative to broaden its regulated cryptocurrency derivatives offerings.

Key Takeaways

CME Group is set to introduce futures for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar.
Launch date is scheduled for February 9, 2026, pending regulatory review.
Futures will include both micro-sized and larger-sized contracts.
Current trading dynamics show a mixed response from ADA, LINK, and XLM after the announcement.

Cardano

CME Group has announced the upcoming launch of futures contracts for three altcoins—Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar—aiming to enhance its portfolio of regulated crypto derivatives. This expansion is scheduled for February 9, 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Expansion of CME's Crypto Derivatives Offerings

On Thursday, the Chicago-based CME Group revealed plans to expand its roster of regulated crypto derivatives by adding futures contracts for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar. The expected launch date is February 9, 2026, although this is contingent on regulatory reviews.

The new offerings will consist of both micro-sized and regular-sized futures contracts. For Cardano, the standard contract will cover 100,000 ADA, and the micro contract will comprise 10,000 ADA. For Chainlink, the large contract will include 5,000 LINK, while the small contract will cover 250 LINK. Similarly, Stellar’s large-sized futures will be set at 250,000 XLM, with the micro contracts covering 12,500 XLM.

This addition continues CME's commitment to providing a comprehensive suite of cryptocurrency products, which already features four of the largest cryptocurrencies based on market capitalization.

CME Group launched Bitcoin (BTC) futures in 2017 and followed with Ethereum (ETH) futures in 2021. In the first half of 2025, they expanded further by adding futures for Solana (SOL) and XRP, with options for both introduced later that year.

Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group's Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, commented on the industry's growth, stating, “Given crypto’s record growth over the last year, clients are seeking trusted, regulated products to manage price risk and gain exposure to this dynamic market.” He emphasized that the new futures contracts for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar would offer market participants greater flexibility and capital efficiency.

Market Reaction to the New Futures Contracts

Despite this positive news, the prices of ADA, LINK, and XLM have largely remained stable, with all three altcoins undergoing an intraday correction. Chainlink and Stellar saw declines of approximately 4% from their highs on Thursday, with prices at around $13.60 and $0.225, respectively.

LINK has temporarily drifted below the $13.80 support level and is now trying to maintain the current price point to prevent further losses. Similarly, XLM was rejected from Wednesday's highs and saw a bounce from the $0.230 area, continuing its descent to two-day lows.

In contrast, ADA attempted to recover to the $0.41 region prior to the announcement, after briefly rallying from recent lows. This altcoin has surged over 10% from recent lows, targeting the critical price range of $0.42-$0.43. However, ADA faced rejection from this zone on Wednesday, resulting in a near 9% retracement from local highs back to the $0.40 level.

On Thursday morning, ADA bounced from this level but resumed its correction as the day went on. Consequently, Cardano has retraced much of this week's gains, currently trading around the $0.391 mark.

ADA Performance
ADA’s performance on the one-week chart. Source: ADAUSDT on TradingView