CME Group launches options on Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether futures

In line with plans unveiled earlier this month, international derivatives marketplace CME Group today launched options on Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether futures, further expanding its suite of cryptocurrency derivatives offerings.

“The launch of these micro-sized options builds on the significant growth and liquidity we have seen in our Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether futures,” said Tim McCourt, CME Group Global Head of Equity and FX Products.

“Sized at one-tenth of their respective underlying tokens in size, these contracts will offer a wide range of market participants – from institutions to sophisticated, active, individual traders – greater flexibility and precision to manage their exposure to the top two cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.”

Options on Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether futures will complement CME Group’s diverse slate of more than 20 Micro products, which, together, have traded more than 1.2 billion contracts since their introduction.

“We continue to see interest in cryptocurrency exposure from our active trader and institutional investor clients,” said Steve Sanders, EVP of Marketing and Product Development at Interactive Brokers. “CME Group’s Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether options will certainly benefit our clients seeking enhanced flexibility to participate in cryptocurrency markets with less upfront cost, and we are excited to add these offerings to the wide range of global products currently available on our platform.”