CME Group to Launch Solana Futures on March 17, Expanding Crypto Derivatives Offering

CME Group announced plans to launch Solana (SOL) futures contracts on March 17, pending regulatory review. This move expands CME's cryptocurrency derivatives suite, which already includes Bitcoin and Ether futures. The new contracts will be available in two sizes: 25 SOL and 500 SOL. According to a press release on Friday, the contracts will be cash-settled using the CME CF Solana-Dollar Reference Rate, tracking SOL's price daily at 4:00 p.m. London time. CME's existing Bitcoin and Ether futures have seen significant growth, with an average daily volume of 202,000 contracts this year, up 73% from 2024. Industry experts believe this launch could pave the way for Solana ETFs, pending SEC approval, after observing several months of trading data on the CME.