Smaller investors would be able to take advantage of CME’s regulated Bitcoin futures contracts as of May 3rd, the organization announced earlier today. This would be possible in the form of so-called Micro BTC futures contracts, which will be one-tenth the size of one bitcoin.
Founded over a century ago, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is among the largest global derivatives marketplaces and one of the first-ever regulated establishments to display a pro-cryptocurrency approach. Back in late 2017, the CME Group launched cash-settled Bitcoin futures contracts.
Earlier today, the Chicago-based organization announced an expansion of its BTC-related portfolio by introducing cash-settled Micro Bitcoin futures contracts.
While the regular Bitcoin futures contracts have five bitcoins, the statement explained that the new product will be significantly smaller – it will contain one-tenth of the size of one BTC.
According to CME, this would enable a more diversified group of investors to participate – “from institutions to sophisticated, active, individual traders – with one more tool to hedge their spot bitcoin price risk or execute bitcoin trading strategies in an efficient, cost-effective way, all while retaining the features and benefits of CME Group’s standard Bitcoin futures.”
“The introduction of Micro Bitcoin futures responds directly to demand for smaller-sized contracts from a broad array of clients and will offer even more choice and precision in how participants can trade regulated Bitcoin futures in a transparent and efficient manner at CME Group.” – commented CME executive, Tim McCourt.
Despite the sluggish start, the BTC futures on CME enjoyed a stable increase in 2019 and 2020, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. The trading volumes soared as prices started to rise late last year, which led to a new all-time high in January 2021, as CryptoPotato reported at the time.
Data from the analytics company Skew indicates that the volumes have declined slightly since those days. Apart from a few brief daily spikes when the trading activities surpassed $5 billion, the volumes have been well beneath that level.
Nevertheless, it would be compelling to follow the trading volumes after the impending launch of the Micro BTC futures contracts on May 3rd, 2021.
