24-4-2025 – CME Group is poised to expand its digital asset portfolio with the introduction of XRP futures, slated for mid-May 2025, subject to regulatory approval.
The derivatives marketplace giant is crafting two distinct contract sizes to cater to varying investor appetites: a micro contract accommodating 2,500 XRP and a standard offering of 50,000 XRP units. Both products will be cash-settled, utilising the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate, with daily settlements scheduled for 16:00 London time.
Giovanni Vicioso, who heads CME Group’s cryptocurrency division globally, highlighted the mounting institutional and retail interest in XRP’s ecosystem as a driving force behind this strategic expansion. The move follows CME’s successful track record in cryptocurrency derivatives, including their recent Solana futures launch and their established Bitcoin and Ethereum products.
Popular trading platform Robinhood has already signalled its participation in this initiative. JB Mackenzie, the firm’s vice president and general manager, expressed enthusiasm about incorporating CME’s XRP futures into their expanding derivatives catalogue, viewing it as a natural progression in their mission to democratise futures trading for retail investors.
The announcement dovetails with CME’s broader strategic roadmap, which includes the forthcoming introduction of spot-quoted futures for Bitcoin and Ethereum, alongside plans to roll out premium equity indices by the close of June 2025. This comprehensive expansion underscores the growing sophistication of cryptocurrency derivative products and their increasing integration into mainstream financial markets.
For retail investors on Robinhood’s platform, who have demonstrated substantial interest in digital assets, this development promises to broaden their trading horizons. The platform aims to bolster its futures offering to encompass more than 40 products, complementing its existing spot cryptocurrency trading services.
