The crypto derivatives market has just reached a strategic milestone. XRP and Solana surpass 3 billion dollars of open interest on the CME, a threshold until now reserved for heavyweights such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. This rapid rise propels these two tokens to the frontline of institutional financial products, marking a silent but decisive repositioning in the crypto hierarchy.
This Monday, October 27, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) reached an unprecedented milestone with 3 billion dollars of cumulative open interest on futures and options contracts for XRP and Solana (SOL), in a context of exploding institutional demand for Ripple’s crypto.
This figure reflects a rapid and sustained rise of these two altcoins in the highly codified world of crypto derivatives.
According to CME Group data, this volume comprises about 17,400 open contracts on Solana and nearly 9,900 on XRP, including both standard and micro formats.
Tim McCourt, global head of equities, currencies, and alternative products at the institution, emphasizes that this enthusiasm reflects strong client demand for “a diversified crypto exposure through regulated products”.
Open interest, which measures the capital tied in open positions on futures contracts, serves as a key indicator of investor commitment. In this regard, the growth recorded by the two assets is remarkable. Here are the precise data :
This momentum now places XRP and Solana at the core of CME’s crypto strategy, alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, marking a turning point in the institutional perception of these assets.
The integration momentum of XRP and Solana in institutional markets has further strengthened with the introduction of options on futures contracts for both cryptos.
This development, announced by the CME, significantly broadens the range of tools available to investors, offering them the possibility to trade options on classic and micro futures, with daily, monthly, or quarterly expirations.
The first options trade on XRP was conducted on October 12 between Wintermute and Superstate, while that on Solana followed on October 13 between Cumberland DRW and Galaxy. These initial trades confirm increased market structuring around these two cryptos.
This upgrade goes beyond product offerings. It is part of CME’s intention to meet the new expectations of institutional investors. The Chicago exchange has also announced plans to offer 24/7 crypto trading starting 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
This permanent opening would allow global players to access these derivative instruments at any time, thus reducing risks linked to volatility outside traditional trading hours. It could also increase the appeal of XRP and Solana, now considered full-fledged derivative assets with growing market depth.
This evolution reflects a paradigm shift. So-called “infrastructural” altcoins, with solid use cases and already well-established adoption, are beginning to be seen as legitimate hedging or speculative instruments in institutional portfolios. If this trend continues, it is likely that other assets will join this exclusive circle of derivatives listed on regulated markets. However, for now, XRP and Solana have clearly passed a milestone with derivatives that are booming, establishing themselves as the new front-runners of institutional crypto finance.
