Crypto Derivatives Surge on CME as Institutional Traders Ramp Up Activity

The global derivatives marketplace saw a sharp rise in crypto contract activity in April, with average daily volumes soaring to 183,000 contracts—translating to $8.9 billion in notional value.

Compared to the same period in 2024, this represents a 129% year-over-year increase, signaling accelerating institutional participation in crypto-linked instruments.

Ether contracts stood out as the fastest-growing segment. Standard ether futures climbed 239% in volume, averaging 14,000 contracts per day. Micro ether futures also saw impressive growth, up 165% to 63,000 contracts. Meanwhile, micro bitcoin futures recorded a 115% rise, reaching 78,000 daily contracts.

READ MORE:

Coinbase to Delist Five Tokens on May 16

CME’s larger futures contracts are tied to full units—5 BTC or 50 ETH—while its micro futures allow more granular exposure at just one-tenth of those amounts, making them popular among smaller institutions and active traders alike.

The strong April performance builds on an already record-breaking Q1 for CME’s crypto derivatives. Overall trading across all CME markets reached an average of 35.9 million contracts daily, up 36% year-over-year.

Despite the spike in trading volume, Ether’s price remained relatively flat, gaining just over 1% in April. In contrast, Bitcoin posted a 15.8% monthly increase, while the CoinDesk 20 index—used to track the broader market—rose by 12.1%.

The post Crypto Derivatives Surge on CME as Institutional Traders Ramp Up Activity appeared first on Coindoo.