CME Exchange Debuts XRP Futures, Opening Institutional Crypto Access

XRP futures trading has officially launched on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), introducing the first regulated U.S. derivatives contract for the cryptocurrency. The offering includes both standard and micro-sized XRP futures, enabling institutional traders to speculate on price movements without holding the underlying asset.

Financial services firm Hidden Road executed the inaugural block trade shortly after launch. CME Group now provides crypto derivatives covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP, with options available for the two largest digital assets by market capitalization.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse praised the development as a significant step toward institutional adoption of XRP. Market analysts suggest this regulatory milestone could pave the way for future XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) approvals.