Derivatives giant Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) experienced a significant surge in trading volume in January, reaching its highest level in three years. The increase in trading volume came as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a highly anticipated milestone for institutional investors.
According to data provided by CCData, the total derivatives trading volume on CME rose by 35% in January, reaching $94.9 billion. This marks the highest recorded trading volume for the exchange since October 2021. The approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. offers institutional investors exposure to the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market value, making it a crucial development in the crypto market.
CME, a Chicago-based firm, specializes in financial, commodity, and agricultural futures and options. It is widely used by large institutions for trading bitcoin futures. Futures contracts are a type of derivative that obligates buyers to purchase bitcoin at a predetermined price on a future date, serving as a hedge against potential price movements.
The trading volume for bitcoin futures on CME increased by 42% to $73 billion in January. A report by CCData suggests that this rise in volume was driven by institutional traders winding down their positions following the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in the United States.
Additionally, CME witnessed a surge in the volume of bitcoin futures open interest (OI), surpassing Binance, the world’s largest centralized exchange by trading volume. However, CCData notes that this trend has since reversed, with open interest falling by 8.50% to $4.42 billion. Bitcoin options on the exchange also experienced a decline, dropping by almost 30% to $1.57 billion.
The report suggests that the increase in futures volume and the decrease in options volume indicate a deleveraging and the end of speculation for institutional investors who had speculated on the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs.
In January, Ether futures trading volume on CME rose by 15.6%. Attention briefly shifted to a possible approval of an ether ETF, as various applicants are awaiting the SEC’s decision later this year on whether spot ether ETFs will be allowed to trade in the U.S. Ether options traded on CME also saw a significant increase, rising by 27%, marking the second-highest monthly trading volume for this instrument on the exchange.
Overall, the surge in trading volume on CME reflects the growing interest and participation of institutional investors in the cryptocurrency market. The approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. has provided these investors with new avenues for exposure to cryptocurrencies, leading to increased trading activity on CME.