CME records a stronger Q2 crypto volume at $13.7 billion

CME Group saw a stronger crypto activity in Q2, despite recent price meltdowns.

In Q2, CME crypto derivatives averaged 250,000 contracts per day, with a notional value of $13.7 billion. That represents a 32% increase year-over-year, according to the report on Thursday. 

The record beats the Q1 update, in which the company reported an average daily volume of 198,000 contracts and a notional value of $11.3 billion, driven by its micro ether futures. 

Meanwhile, in Q2, Ether futures averaged 18,000 contracts daily. 

CME records $10.7 billion in June volume

The bulk of Q2 volume was driven by stronger crypto activity in June, as per the report. 

CME crypto derivatives averaged 334,000 contracts per day in June 2026, representing $10.7 billion in notional value and a 76% year-over-year increase. 

Micro Bitcoin futures stood out among other products, with CME reporting a 46% increase in average daily volume to 77,000 contracts for the month. 

The June numbers arrive roughly one month after CME launched round-the-clock trading for its regulated crypto futures and options.

More than 7,200 crypto futures and options contracts, worth approximately $50 million in notional value, were traded over the inaugural weekend when the 24/7 trading began. 

Derivatives make up most of crypto volume in Q1

The growth in CME’s Q2 volume points to the widening gap between spot and derivatives volumes.

In January, centralized exchanges reported $5.26 trillion in volumes. Spot trading only accounted for $1.27 trillion, Cryptopolitan reported. 

In Q1 2026, the spot market generated approximately $1.94 trillion in volume, and derivatives products led with about $18.63 trillion, making a total of $20.57 trillion in volume for the quarter. 

Binance processed $4.90 trillion in derivatives volume, the largest among centralized exchanges, followed by OKX.

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