Record Trading Volumes at CME Group Drive Momentum in 2025

CME Group has announced unprecedented trading activity in 2025, with average daily volume (ADV) soaring to 28.1 million contracts, an increase of 6% from the previous year.

Key Takeaways

CME Group achieved a record ADV of 28.1 million contracts in 2025, a 6% increase from 2024.
The growth was widespread, including interest rates, equities, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
Interest rate products accounted for significant trading, with a 4% rise to 14.2 million contracts.
Cryptocurrency derivatives saw a substantial 139% increase, reaching 278,000 contracts in ADV.
International trading also hit new highs, showing strong global engagement.

The growth spans multiple sectors, including interest rates, equities, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. This underscores CME’s vital role in global risk management amid increasing macroeconomic volatility and heightened institutional involvement.

In the fourth quarter, ADV reached a benchmark of 27.4 million contracts, with December recording an impressive ADV of 23.5 million, marking it as the strongest December ever.

These figures indicate a rising demand for hedging tools against fluctuating rates, commodity price instability, and the expanding use of crypto derivatives.

Interest Rates and Equities Propel Growth

Interest rate products have been the core of CME’s trading activity. The annual ADV for interest rates increased by 4% to a record 14.2 million contracts, fueled by robust trading in U.S. Treasury futures and options, as well as SOFR-linked products.

U.S. Treasury futures and options alone saw a record ADV of 8.3 million contracts, while SOFR futures and options reached 5.4 million contracts, indicating how traders are positioning themselves around the Federal Reserve's policies and the dynamics of the funding market.

Equity index derivatives have also experienced notable demand, with ADV for equity index products rising by 8% year-on-year to 7.4 million contracts, benefitting especially from micro contracts.

Record volumes for Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 and Micro E-mini S&P 500 futures reflect ongoing participation from both retail and professional traders in smaller-sized contracts.

Explosive Growth in Crypto Derivatives

The segment for cryptocurrency derivatives emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories. CME reported a remarkable 139% increase in crypto ADV in 2025, hitting a record of 278,000 contracts, equivalent to around $12 billion in notional value.

Micro Ether futures led the pack, followed closely by Micro Bitcoin futures, as traders increasingly gravitated towards capital-efficient instruments linked to digital assets.

The momentum continued into the fourth quarter, where crypto ADV surged to a quarterly record of 379,000 contracts, with December alone achieving 339,000 contracts traded.

CME attributed this growth to heightened institutional interest in regulated crypto markets, especially during times of significant price fluctuations.

Global Participation and Enhanced Liquidity

CME’s international trading activity also experienced record-breaking outcomes, with ADV outside the U.S. increasing by 8% to 8.4 million contracts. This rise was primarily driven by strong participation from regions such as Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The exchange notes that its markets are benefiting from a global diversification of trading flows and a rising cross-border demand for benchmark derivatives.

Summarizing the 2025 results, CME Group illustrates its capacity to harness trading volume across diverse asset classes during economic uncertainty. With contributions from crypto, interest rates, and commodities driving record activity, the exchange enters 2026 with robust momentum and ample liquidity across its global markets.