U.S. derivatives major CME Group has acquired Avalanche ($AVAX) and Sui ($SUI) Futures contracts for institutional investors. The move brings two high-capacity blockchain platforms into CME’s expanding lineup of crypto derivatives.
New futures products and contract specifications
CME has launched both standard and micro futures for Avalanche and Sui. The platform currently offers a standard Avalanche contract size of 5,000. $AVAXand 500 micro-contracts $AVAX. With Sui, investors have access to 50,000 standard contracts. $SUI and a microcontract with a size of 5,000 $SUI. These futures provide institutions with exposure to: $AVAX and $SUI It causes price movements without owning the underlying asset itself. All contracts are settled in cash based on CME’s reference price index and there is no physical delivery of Avalanche or Sui coins.
Expanding CME’s Crypto Derivatives Suite
On April 7, CME Group announced that the addition of Avalanche and Sui futures will provide customers with even more flexibility in managing their digital asset portfolios. Giovanni Vicioso, Head of Crypto Products at CME Group, said these new contracts will enable new trading strategies for digital asset traders on CME’s platform. With the latest launch, $AVAX and $SUI It currently ranks alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano among CME’s crypto derivative products.
The company highlighted that Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar futures debuted in February, with Avalanche and Sui added to this evolving list. These new products enable a variety of trading and hedging strategies, including directional trading, basis trading, and comparative value analysis. Traders can make pairings, e.g. $AVAX or $SUI Compare price trends between different blockchain projects using Solana, Bitcoin, or Ethereum futures.
Glossary: A futures contract is a derivative financial instrument that obligates a buyer or seller to trade an asset at a predetermined price at a set date in the future, allowing profits or losses to be derived purely from price movements without the need for physical delivery.
First block trade and institutional investor involvement
CME revealed that the first block trade for these new futures took place between FalconX and G-20 Group on May 6th, shortly after the product launch. FalconX, a leading US-based digital asset company, provides cryptocurrency trading, investment, and risk management services to institutional clients. G-20 Group specializes in developing financial services for institutional investors.
Speaking on behalf of FalconX, Joshua Lim explained that the new futures directly address the needs of financial institutions for hedging and leveraging emerging cryptocurrencies. Many large investors prefer U.S.-regulated derivatives products, especially from a safety and compliance perspective, said Jonathan Matai of G-20 Group.
KuCoin said in an April analysis that the move could usher in a new chapter in regulated crypto derivatives, attracting cautious investors seeking risk-managed access to Avalanche and Sui on compliant exchanges.
24/7 trading and expansion plans
CME announced that starting May 29, 2026, daily cryptocurrency futures will be available on its electronic trading platforms Globex and ClearPort. Investors have near-continuous access to trades, except for routine daily and weekend maintenance.
CME aims to increase institutional investor participation in the cryptocurrency futures market by diversifying its product offering and extending trading hours.
