CME Q2 Crypto Volume Hits $13.7B, June Sets Record

CME Group's crypto derivatives posted a record June, with average daily volume of 334,000 contracts and daily notional of $10.7 billion, up 76% from a year earlier. The surge pushed the entire second quarter to a 32% year-over-year gain. CME reported Q2 crypto derivatives averaged 250,000 contracts per day, representing $13.7 billion in notional value.

The June numbers came about a month after CME launched round-the-clock trading for its regulated crypto futures and options. Over the inaugural weekend, more than 7,200 contracts, worth roughly $50 million in notional value, traded on the CME Globex platform.

Micro Bitcoin futures led the product suite in June. CME reported a 46% increase in average daily volume for that contract, to 77,000 contracts. Ether futures averaged 18,000 contracts daily during Q2.

The quarterly report also highlighted a widening gap between spot and derivatives activity in the broader market. In January, centralized exchanges saw total volumes of $5.26 trillion, with spot trading accounting for only $1.27 trillion, according to Cryptopolitan. For all of Q1 2026, spot markets generated roughly $1.94 trillion, while derivatives products hit $18.63 trillion, making a combined $20.57 trillion. Binance processed $4.90 trillion in derivatives volume, the largest among centralized exchanges, followed by OKX.

CME's overall business also hit records. The exchange reported a June average daily volume of 30.6 million contracts across all asset classes, up 19% year-over-year. Equity index and agricultural products each saw all-time monthly highs.

CME holds an Alpha Score of 50 out of 100, reflecting mixed sentiment across the financials sector. For more on the exchange's stock, see the CME stock page.