.png){kind=logo}
Trading in XRP and Solana futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed to new heights this week. The notional open interest across both assets reached nearly $3 billion, setting a fresh record for the exchange’s altcoin derivatives segment.
Figures released Monday showed 9,900 active XRP and micro-XRP contracts along with 15,600 open Solana futures positions. Together, they represent the strongest demand since the listings went live earlier this year.
XRP futures began trading in May 2025 and reached $1 billion in volume within 3 months. Solana’s contracts, listed in March, matched that pace by August. At the Token2049 conference, Tim McCourt, CME’s Global Head of Equity and FX Products, said the exchange is expanding tools for investors to manage risk while keeping exposure within regulated boundaries.
Smaller contract sizes and continuous trading windows have opened the market to a wider range of traders. That accessibility, combined with transparent pricing, has driven liquidity to its highest level since the contracts launched.
Institutional interest in structured crypto products continues to build momentum. Coinotag data shows more than 150 altcoin ETF applications now before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Of these, 23 involve Solana and 20 focus on XRP.
The CME’s shift to 24-hour trading and the rollout of event-based products have drawn in larger asset managers seeking constant access to crypto exposure. During the third quarter of 2025, CME’s average daily crypto-futures volume climbed 225 percent year over year to about 340,000 contracts. The bulk of that activity centered on XRP and Solana.
Market analysts see this as a sign of maturity in the altcoin derivatives market. Even so, the scale still trails Bitcoin and Ethereum contracts, which continue to dominate CME’s crypto listings.
Liquidity concerns remain part of the discussion. Bitcoin holds close to 60 percent of the overall crypto market capitalization, while stablecoin inflows slipped below $100 billion in late October, hinting at lighter market turnover.
At the same time, large capital inflows into traditional crypto vehicles illustrate the other side of the story. BlackRock’s $28.1 billion Bitcoin ETF inflow underscores how regulated participation can steer market activity. Without similar ETF approvals for altcoins, capital flows into XRP and Solana remain limited.
Still, JPMorgan estimates that ETF approval could unlock between $4 billion and $8 billion for XRP alone. That projection shows continued confidence among institutional players, who are watching for regulatory green lights.
CME’s push toward tokenization partnerships, including collaborations with Google, along with its move to full-time trading, positions it well to capture a larger share of the global derivatives market.
As the SEC weighs decisions on pending altcoin ETF filings, one question continues to shape market debate: Can XRP and Solana futures eventually match Bitcoin’s hold on institutional trading desks?
For now, CME’s record open interest signals that regulated venues are becoming the preferred route for severe crypto exposure, bridging traditional finance with the evolving digital-asset landscape.
CME’s record $3 billion open interest in XRP and Solana futures reflects accelerating institutional confidence in regulated altcoin derivatives. With growing liquidity and new tokenization partnerships, CME continues to bridge traditional finance with digital assets, setting the stage for broader adoption of ETFs.
Read More: Ripple’s XRP ETF Misses Deadline Again: Is Rejection Coming?
