The largest regulated derivatives exchange, CME Group, plans to launch futures based on Solana on March 17, pending regulator approval.
New instruments will be offered in two variants:
microcontracts — based on 25 SOL;
larger contracts — for 500 SOL.
"The launch of SOL futures is a response to the growing demand from clients looking to hedge risks with regulated instruments," noted Giovanni Visioso, head of cryptocurrency products at CME Group.
According to him, Solana continues to strengthen its position as a popular platform among developers and investors, and such derivatives will become a capital-efficient tool for managing risks. Some market experts have expressed the opinion that the upcoming launch of new instruments is a precursor to an ETF.
"CME's decision to add SOL contracts significantly increases the likelihood that the corresponding spot exchange-traded funds will receive approval in the foreseeable future," noted Sui Chun, head of CF Benchmarks.
According to him, the SEC traditionally views the presence of a regulated futures market as a key condition for approving spot ETFs. This allows for the identification of potential market manipulators and reduces risks for investors. However, before making a final decision, the regulator is likely to want to observe trading activity on the CME for several months.
At the time of writing, SOL is trading around $143. Over the past 24 hours, its price has risen by 13.7%, according to CoinGecko. It is worth noting that in January, information about futures based on $XRP appeared on the CME subdomain.
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