6 days ago
2
CME's overall average daily volume across asset classes hit an all-time high of 28.1 million contracts, with crypto being a key contributor.
Jan 5, 2026, 2:45 p.m.
CME Group's (CME) cryptocurrency derivatives trading volume surged to record highs last year, with average daily volume jumping 139% year-over-year to 278,000 contracts even as the largest tokens fell.
The volume equates to roughly $12 billion in daily notional value, according to data released by the company, and marks the crypto products' strongest annual performance since their debut in 2017.
The exchange pointed to its micro-ether and micro-bitcoin futures contracts as record performers, with average daily volumes of 144,000 and 75,000 contracts, respectively. Full-size ether futures also posted strong gains, with average daily volume rising to 19,000 contracts.
The growing volumes came in a negative year for the cryptocurrency market’s price performance. The price of bitcoin BTC$93,410.21 dropped around 6.3% in 2025, while ether ETH$3,166.79 lost 11% and the broader CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index dropped roughly 17%.
Crypto was just one slice of CME’s record-breaking year. Overall, the exchange hit an all-time high of 28.1 million contracts in average daily volume across asset classes, including interest rates, energy and metals, it said.
More For You
KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Bitmine Immersion adds 33,000 ETH, bringing total crypto and cash holdings above $14 billion
Led by Chairman Tom Lee, the company now holds 4.14 million ether (ETH), or 3.4% of the total supply.
What to know:
- Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) added 33,000 ether, now holding over 4.14 million tokens.
- The company's crypto and cash holdings total $14.2 billion.
- Bitmine has staked 659,219 ETH and plans to increase this figure with the launch of its in-house validator, MAVAN, which is expected to generate over $1 million per day in staking rewards.
English (US) ·