CME to Debut Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap Futures on Oct. 19, Pending Regulatory Review

CME Group said it plans to expand its crypto derivatives offering with Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Uniswap (UNI) futures on Oct. 19, subject to regulatory review. The exchange confirmed the planned launch on Tuesday. Both assets will be listed with a standard contract and a smaller micro version aimed at traders seeking lower per-contract exposure. Standard contracts will represent 10,000 UNI or 250 BCH, while micro contracts will represent 1,000 UNI or 25 BCH. At current prices, a standard UNI contract equates to roughly $90,000 in notional exposure and a standard BCH contract about $69,000. Futures enable market participants to take directional views or hedge price risk without owning the underlying token. CME operates under oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. derivatives regulator. For many banks, hedge funds and asset managers that are unable to trade on offshore crypto venues, CME-listed contracts can be one of the few regulated pathways to gain exposure. UNI rose about 5% and BCH nearly 10% within minutes of the announcement. CME said its crypto contracts averaged 279,800 trades per day in the first half of 2026, representing $8.3 billion in daily notional value. The exchange listed Cardano, Chainlink and Stellar futures in February and moved its crypto products to 24/7 trading in May. Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group's Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, said market participants are seeking a broader set of regulated instruments to manage digital-asset price risk as the sector matures. The initial spike was framed as evidence that regulated capital can take positions in both tokens, though futures also make it easier to establish short exposure. History offers a cautionary backdrop: Bitcoin's first CME futures launched in December 2017, days before that cycle's peak, and Cardano later traded at a five-year low months after its own CME contracts began trading. The new listings may bolster credibility rather than serve as a reliable catalyst for sustained gains. Open interest after Oct. 19 will be closely watched for signs of institutional positioning; thin volumes could leave the move looking like a one-day, headline-driven trade.