CME Group is scheduled to launch Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Uniswap (UNI) futures on October 19 on its 24/7 crypto derivatives market, featuring both standard and micro sizes. The plan remains subject to regulatory review.
The new products will expand CME’s altcoin futures portfolio while providing an additional channel to hedge and gain exposure to BCH and UNI price movements without directly holding the tokens.
CME Broadens Its Crypto Derivatives Lineup
The planned launch of BCH and UNI futures represents the next step in CME’s expansion of its crypto derivatives portfolio beyond Bitcoin and Ether into altcoins. In 2026 alone, the exchange added futures contracts for Cardano, Chainlink, Stellar, Avalanche, and Sui, alongside its existing XRP and Solana products.
CME stated that the five altcoin products launched this year have generated over $1 billion in total nominal value. In the first half of 2026, the group’s overall crypto futures and options suite averaged 279,800 contracts per day, equivalent to $8.3 billion per day. Average open interest reached 264,600 contracts, valued at $15.4 billion.
Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group, said adding BCH and UNI aims to meet demand for regulated tools to manage price risk.
The two new products will also trade on the 24/7 schedule that CME implemented in late May. During its first weekend, over 7,200 crypto futures and options contracts were traded, representing approximately $50 million in nominal value, according to CME Group.
What the New BCH and UNI Contracts Offer
CME will offer standard and micro versions for both assets, allowing participants to choose an appropriate position size. Each standard Bitcoin Cash contract represents 250 BCH, while the micro version represents 25 BCH. For Uniswap, the two corresponding sizes are 10,000 UNI and 1,000 UNI.
Based on prices recorded on September 22, with BCH around $265 and UNI around $9, the standard contracts carry nominal values of approximately $66,250 and $90,000, respectively. The two micro versions correspond to roughly $6,625 and $9,000.
Investors can use these contracts to hedge existing positions or build long and short positions without directly holding the tokens in custody. The nominal value is not an upfront outlay because futures trade on margin. Actual margin requirements will depend on CME and the broker, while leverage can amplify both gains and losses.
CME’s crypto futures products are cash-settled based on the CME CF Reference Rates rather than requiring physical delivery of tokens upon expiration. CME and CF Benchmarks have published reference rates for BCH and UNI since 2022. The BCH benchmark currently aggregates data from Bitstamp, Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, and LMAX Digital, while the UNI benchmark utilizes data from Coinbase and Kraken, according to CME documentation.
BCH and UNI Gain Ahead of CME Announcement
BCH and UNI entered CME’s announcement day against a backdrop of rising prices and derivatives activity. Bitcoin Cash traded around $265 on September 22, up approximately 5.4% in 24 hours, while futures open interest reached around $301.8 million.
UNI rose from around $6.71 on September 16 to nearly $9 on September 22, representing a gain of over 30% in less than a week. Open interest in the perpetual market reached around $692.5 million prior to CME’s announcement.
Much of the rally had already occurred beforehand, so price movements cannot be attributed solely to CME’s plan. Furthermore, listing futures does not directly generate buying demand for tokens in the spot market, as the contracts are cash-settled.
Regulatory Review and the Liquidity Test Ahead
CME aims to open trading on October 19, though this timeline remains subject to regulatory review, meaning the trading schedule could change if the process is not finalized.
If the products launch as planned, volume, open interest, bid-ask spreads, and market maker participation will serve as key metrics of demand. The volume distribution between standard and micro contracts will also indicate how the market utilizes the two sizing options.
The CME listing opens an additional avenue for BCH and UNI exposure within a regulated derivatives market. However, the long-term appeal of both contracts will depend on liquidity and open interest following the post-launch phase.
