Leading derivatives marketplace CME Group has called on the crypto community to prepare for the imminent launch of CFTC-regulated XRP futures.
Taking to X, the derivatives trading platform teased the imminent launch of its XRP futures product yesterday, asking its 677,500 followers to mark their calendars for the rollout.
Per the post, CME Group reiterated that users can start trading XRP futures on its platform from May 19, five days from today. Recall that CME Group first disclosed plans to launch futures products separately tied to XRP and Solana in January.
🗓️ Mark your calendars and get ready to expand your crypto portfolio with XRP futures starting May 19.
Trade your market view with confidence with CFTC-regulated XRP futures, available in larger- and micro-sized contracts. ➡️ https://t.co/QKapp7sxi6 pic.twitter.com/Xnys8py1Du
— CME Group (@CMEGroup) May 13, 2025
CME Still on Track to Launch XRP Futures
However, CME Group deleted the announcement from its beta website, triggering concerns that the exchange might have canceled its plans. Two months later, CME debuted the Solana futures and announced plans to launch a similar product for XRP, pending regulatory approval.
CME’s latest announcement confirms it is on track to launch the XRP futures on May 19. In the meantime, whether the CFTC has approved the product for launch remains unclear.
Once CME’s XRP futures launch on May 19, market participants can trade the product under two contract sizes. They include a micro-sized contract of 2,500 XRP and a larger-sized contract of 50,000 XRP.
An earlier press release stated that the CME XRP futures would be cash-settled. The product’s price will be determined based on the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate. The launch of XRP futures will see CME expand its crypto product suite, which currently features assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Other CFTC-Regulated XRP Futures
It bears mentioning that the CME XRP futures will join other CFTC-regulated XRP futures currently available in the United States. In March, Bitnomial, an exchange overseen by the U.S. CFTC, launched the first regulated XRP futures in the U.S.
Notably, shortly after Coinbase launched another CFTC-regulated XRP futures on its derivatives platform, specifically by April 21, 2025. The continuous rollout of regulated futures for XRP highlights the U.S. regulators’ evolving stance on XRP as a commodity rather than a security.
XRP ETF Next?
This classification is essential in the token’s potential approval for a spot-based exchange-traded fund (ETF). Currently, 11 asset managers, including Franklin Templeton and 21Shares, are seeking the SEC’s permission to launch spot XRP ETFs in the U.S.
These asset managers characterized their XRP ETFs as commodity-based trusts to secure the SEC approval. Interestingly, the SEC has acknowledged these products.
Although the SEC has approved multiple leveraged XRP ETFs, including those belonging to ProShares, it has not approved any spot applications.
Nonetheless, market pundits are confident that a spot XRP ETF will launch this year. Bloomberg ETF expert James Seyffart suggested that the SEC has a final deadline of October 18, 2025, to decide the fate of the multiple XRP ETF applications on its desk.
