Institutional appetite for cryptocurrency exposure is growing fast, according to fresh trading data from CME Group.
The global derivatives marketplace saw a sharp rise in crypto contract activity in April, with average daily volumes soaring to 183,000 contracts—translating to $8.9 billion in notional value.
Compared to the same period in 2024, this represents a 129% year-over-year increase, signaling accelerating institutional participation in crypto-linked instruments.
Ether contracts stood out as the fastest-growing segment. Standard ether futures climbed 239% in volume, averaging 14,000 contracts per day. Micro ether futures also saw impressive growth, up 165% to 63,000 contracts. Meanwhile, micro bitcoin futures recorded a 115% rise, reaching 78,000 daily contracts.
CME’s larger futures contracts are tied to full units—5 BTC or 50 ETH—while its micro futures allow more granular exposure at just one-tenth of those amounts, making them popular among smaller institutions and active traders alike.
The strong April performance builds on an already record-breaking Q1 for CME’s crypto derivatives. Overall trading across all CME markets reached an average of 35.9 million contracts daily, up 36% year-over-year.
Despite the spike in trading volume, Ether’s price remained relatively flat, gaining just over 1% in April. In contrast, Bitcoin posted a 15.8% monthly increase, while the CoinDesk 20 index—used to track the broader market—rose by 12.1%.
Alexander Stefanov
Reporter at Coindoo
Alex is an experienced finance journalist and a cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain and fintech industries, he deeply understands the complex and constantly evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His passionate approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and insightful content. Follow up on his content to be up to date with the most important trends and topics.
Source: https://coindoo.com/crypto-derivatives-surge-on-cme-as-institutional-traders-ramp-up-activity/