CME Group announced Tuesday it will list Avalanche (AVAX) and Sui (SUI) futures contracts beginning May 4, 2026, expanding its regulated crypto product suite to eight assets. The lineup now includes bitcoin, ether, Solana, XRP, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar. On May 29, CME will launch 24/7 trading for its entire crypto derivatives complex, leaving only a two-hour weekly maintenance window.
The new contracts are cash-settled and cleared through CME Clearing. AVAX futures come in a standard size of 5,000 AVAX and a micro size of 500 AVAX; SUI futures offer a standard contract of 50,000 SUI and a micro of 5,000 SUI. Both are priced off CME CF reference rates based on New York settlement windows. They will trade on the CME Globex platform and be block-eligible.
Institutional Demand Drives New Listings
Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group's global head of cryptocurrency products, said the new listings provide clients with greater choice and capital efficiency. He noted that March average daily volume climbed 19% year-over-year, with nearly $8 billion notional traded each day. In 2025, CME crypto futures and options reached $3 trillion in notional volume. Year-to-date early 2026 figures show average daily volume of 407,200 contracts, up 46% YoY; futures ADV hit 403,900 contracts, up 47%; average daily open interest stood at 335,400 contracts, up 7%.
Industry partners also voiced support. Justin Young, CEO of Volatility Shares, and Isaac Cahana, CEO of Plus500US, both cited growing demand from hedgers for regulated altcoin exposure beyond bitcoin and ether. Tim McCourt, CME Group's global head of equities, FX, and alternative products, has repeatedly stated that client demand for digital asset risk management is at an all-time high.
24/7 Trading Closes Weekend Basis Gap
The around-the-clock schedule takes effect May 29 at 4 p.m. CT for all CME crypto derivatives. Trades placed Friday through Sunday evenings will carry a trade date of the following business day. This move directly addresses the basis risk faced by hedgers when CME markets are closed but spot crypto prices keep moving on weekends.
The AVAX and SUI futures launches and the 24/7 switch remain subject to final CFTC approval; CME has not provided a timeline. The micro contract structure lowers barriers for a broader set of participants while standard contracts serve larger institutional needs. All products benefit from CME's institutional-grade clearing infrastructure.