Institutional Flows Push CME Crypto Options to $9B as ETH, SOL, XRP Set Records
Institutional investors are increasingly active in CME Group’s regulated crypto derivatives markets, driving record levels of open interest in ether (ETH $3,882.12), solana (SOL $189.70), and XRP, CME told CoinDesk on Thursday.
Since Oct. 10, total open interest across CME’s crypto futures and options has jumped 27%, reflecting rising confidence among large traders. The increase comes as market participants shift away from offshore platforms following last week’s liquidation events.
On Tuesday, ETH futures open interest reached a record 48,600 contracts, while SOL and XRP futures hit all-time highs of 20,700 and 10,100 contracts, respectively. Options open interest climbed to $9 billion, signaling that more traders are using regulated products for hedging and speculation. CME’s Micro Ether futures also ranked second in daily volume, highlighting broad institutional engagement.
“The top 10 days for open interest have all occurred in October, demonstrating both strong conviction and growing participation in the regulated crypto derivatives market,” a CME spokesperson said.
The surge builds on CME’s strong third-quarter performance, when combined crypto futures and options volumes topped $900 billion and average daily open interest reached $31.3 billion. Notional open interest peaked at $39 billion in September, with over 1,000 large holders active, indicating adoption beyond niche traders.
This growth extends beyond bitcoin and ether. SOL and XRP futures, launched earlier this year, have drawn significant attention. By September, SOL futures surpassed $2.1 billion in open interest, while XRP futures reached $1.4 billion, reflecting increasing institutional interest across multiple crypto assets.
