The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has announced plans to add new expiries to its existing options products across its standard and micro-sized bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) contracts from May 22.

CME Group expanding crypto futures features

 In a bid to provide its users with greater precision and versatility in handling short-term bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) price risk, the CME is set to expand the current expiry periods of its futures contracts. 

According to a press release by the CME Group, from May 22 (subject to regulatory approval), its crypto options across its standard and micro-sized bitcoin and ether contracts products will be expanded to include expiries on every day of the business week, Monday through Friday, complementing its existing monthly and quarterly expiries available on its BTC and ETH futures contracts.

“By completing the short end of the implied volatility surface with the addition of the new Tuesday, Thursday Micro options contracts, institutional market marks such as XBTO can deliver precise liquidity to market participants of all sizes who trade and hedge crypto exposure spanning every business day of the upcoming week for the first time.”

Paul Esma, head of options trading at XBTO.

The CME Group launched the world’s first bitcoin futures contract during the crypto summer of 2017. The exchange claims the demand for its bitcoin and ether futures and options products has been on the increase, recording a daily average notional of over $3 billion during Q1 2023.