CME Group to launch a new Ethereum based product to attract smaller investors

The top derivatives marketplace, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), has announced the expansion of its offerings with a new Ethereum (ETH/USD) based product. The firm stated that the new Micro Ether futures will go live on its platform on December 6.

CME provides more trading options for traders

According to the announcement, the new product will be sized at 0.1ETH, which means individual and institutional traders will be exposed to a new type of Ether trading.

The latest addition will become the fourth cryptocurrency derivatives product CME Group has ever launched on its platform. The company says all is set to launch the product, pending regulatory approval.

Ethereum nears ATH 

This is coming when ETH price is seeing an impressive surge, as the token goes close to its all-time high, trading at $4,438 at the time of writing. 

When launched, Micro Ether futures will be traded like the Micro Bitcoin futures previously launched in May 2021. Since the launch of the BTC futures, the platform has recorded more than 2.7 million contracts. The company expects the same level of interest on Ether futures from both retail and institutional traders when the product goes live on its platform. The first Bitcoin futures contract on the CME platform went live on December 17, 2017.

CME wants to enable smaller investments

Global head of alternative investment products at CME Group, Tim McCourt, stated that the firm wants to enable smaller investments with the launch of ETH futures. He added that the move will be bringing more investors to the market. He noted,

McCourt added that the price of ETH has surged by more than 100% since the contracts were introduced.