The CME Group, the world's largest derivatives exchange, announced Tuesday that it will list Avalanche (AVAX) and Sui (SUI) futures contracts on May 4, 2026, adding two more altcoins to its growing suite of regulated crypto derivatives. The news comes ahead of the exchange's planned launch of 24/7 trading for its entire crypto derivatives lineup on May 29, 2026, a move designed to close the gap between traditional futures markets and the always-on spot crypto market.
New Futures Contracts: AVAX and SUI Specifications
With the addition of AVAX and SUI futures, CME now covers eight digital assets: Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, XRP, Cardano, Chainlink, Stellar, and the two newcomers. Both contracts will be offered in standard and micro sizes. The standard AVAX futures contract represents 5,000 AVAX, while the micro contract represents 500 AVAX. For SUI, the standard contract is 50,000 SUI and the micro contract is 5,000 SUI. All contracts are cash-settled, cleared through CME Clearing, and priced based on the CME CF reference rates linked to New York settlement windows. They are also eligible for block trading.
Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Crypto Products at CME Group, stated: "Our new AVAX and SUI futures in micro and larger sizes will provide our clients with more choice, greater flexibility, and increased capital efficiency across our deeply liquid, regulated crypto derivatives suite." Institutional partners also expressed support. Justin Young, CEO of Volatility Shares, and Isaac Kahana, CEO of Plus500US, both noted rising demand from hedgers and investors seeking regulated exposure to altcoins beyond bitcoin and ether.
Record Volumes and 24/7 Trading Era
CME reported that its crypto derivatives achieved notional volume of $3 trillion in 2025, momentum that has continued into early 2026. Year-to-date through early 2026, average daily volume (ADV) reached 407,200 contracts, up 46% year-over-year. Futures ADV stood at 403,900 contracts, a 47% increase, while average daily open interest was 335,400 contracts, up 7% year-over-year. In March 2026, ADV rose 19% from a year earlier, with an average notional value of approximately $8 billion traded daily.
The 24/7 trading transition, which goes live at 4 p.m. CT on May 29, 2026, will apply to the entire CME crypto derivatives suite, with only a minimum two-hour weekly maintenance window. Weekend and holiday trades placed from Friday evening to Sunday evening will carry the next business day's trade date. Clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting will follow the same schedule. Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group, has repeatedly emphasized that customer demand for risk management in digital assets is at an all-time high.
The move to 24/7 trading addresses a long-standing pain point for institutional hedgers who face basis risk when CME contracts are closed over weekends while spot prices continue to move. By expanding its product suite to include AVAX and SUI, and enabling continuous trading, CME strengthens its position as the leading regulated venue for crypto derivatives, offering tools for both large institutions and smaller participants through the micro contract structure. All CME crypto products are cash-settled and benefit from institutional-grade clearing infrastructure. The exchange has not disclosed the exact timing of final CFTC approval.