CME Group (CME) cryptocurrency derivatives trading volume reached record levels 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 around $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 highlighted its micro-ether and micro-bitcoin futures contracts as record performers, with average daily volumes of 144,000 and 75,000 contracts, respectively. Larger ether futures also saw strong gains, with average daily volume reaching 19,000 contracts.
The growing volumes come during a negative year for cryptocurrency market price action. The price of Bitcoin fell about 6.3% in 2025, while ether lost 11% and the broader CoinDesk 20 Index (CD20) fell about 17%.
Crypto is just one part of CME’s record year. Overall, the exchange hit a record high of 28.1 million contracts in average daily volume across all asset classes, including interest rates, energy and metals, it said.
