CME Group has officially launched Solana (SOL) futures, providing institutional investors with a new tool for investing and hedging in the cryptocurrency market.
The first trade was executed between FalconX and StoneX, marking a significant step in the expansion of regulated derivatives in this sector.
This launch comes in response to the growing demand for capital-efficient investment vehicles. Giovanni Vicioso, global head of cryptocurrency products at CME, stated that the new contracts provide institutional investors with more options to structure their investments and manage risk.
The contracts are available in two sizes:
a mini contract (25 SOL) and a standard contract (500 SOL), and the first block transaction took place on March 16.
Companies such as FalconX, StoneX, and Cumberland DRW welcomed this move as a boost to the maturity of the cryptocurrency derivatives market.
These contracts are settled in cash based on the SOL/USD reference rate provided by CME CF, ensuring an accurate daily benchmark, according to the company's statement. The launch of these contracts complements CME's previous offerings, which included Bitcoin and Ethereum, amid growing institutional interest in digital assets in traditional finance.
