According to Bloomberg, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) plans to introduce a small-scale Bitcoin futures contract priced at 1/50 of the current Bitcoin price, with cash settlement. This product is currently awaiting regulatory approval and is expected to launch on September 30th.
Back in 2021, CME had already launched micro futures contracts for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, priced at 1/10 of the respective token prices. However, due to the continuous rise in cryptocurrency prices in recent years, these products remain relatively high-priced, raising the threshold for trading.
Giovanni Viciioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME, noted, “Introducing smaller-scale contracts allows for greater trading flexibility, making them more suitable for individual retail investors.”
Similar to CME, Nasdaq also plans to launch new derivatives based on Bitcoin. On Tuesday, Eastern Time, Nasdaq, in partnership with CF Benchmarks, submitted an application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the Nasdaq Bitcoin Index Options (XBTX). This product aims to help investors better manage cryptocurrency positions and hedge risks.
Greg Ferrari, Vice President and Head of Exchange Business Management at Nasdaq, stated, “This collaboration further combines the innovative crypto space with the robustness of the traditional securities market, laying an important milestone for the mature development of the digital assets market.”
Whether it is CME or Nasdaq, the introduction of new Bitcoin-based derivatives helps attract traditional investors into the cryptocurrency field or enhances the interest of existing investors, which is positive news for the crypto industry. However, it may also draw market liquidity, impacting products on other exchanges, similar to how major exchanges have gradually delisted futures contracts of various mainstream coins.
