Solana Futures Debut on CME: Volume Trails Bitcoin and Ethereum, But Analysts See Potential

On March 17, Solana (SOL) futures launched on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), generating $12.1 million in trading volume on day one. While this figure trails the initial volumes of Bitcoin and Ethereum futures, analysts at K33 Research note that when normalized for market capitalization, Solana's launch aligns more closely with its predecessors. Bitcoin futures, which debuted in December 2017, saw $103 million in trading volume, while Ethereum futures in early 2022 generated $31 million. Despite the lower initial volume, the introduction of Solana futures on the CME is expected to increase liquidity and price discovery for SOL, potentially attracting institutional engagement over time. Currently, SOL is trading around $125, down 2.5% but significantly below its all-time high from late January.