CME Group launches crypto indices including 10-asset benchmark excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum

On August 31, 2026, CME Group launched two multi-asset cryptocurrency benchmarks developed with CF Benchmarks: the CME CF Crypto Market Index and the CME CF Emerging Crypto Index, which excludes Bitcoin and Ether. The emerging index tracks 10 major assets, including BNB, XRP, and Solana, using free-float market capitalization weighting. Designed for financial product licensing and passive fund replication, both indices calculate real-time values every second and publish daily regional settlements.

CME crypto index launch

• ▪The newly launched benchmarks consist of the CME CF Crypto Market Index, which includes Bitcoin and Ether, and the CME CF Emerging Crypto Index, which excludes both assets.
• ▪CME Group launched two new multi-asset cryptocurrency benchmarks, developed in partnership with CF Benchmarks, on Monday, August 31, 2026.
• ▪Both new CME Group indices provide real-time calculations updated every second, 24 hours a day, and daily settlement variants published at 4 p.m. in London, New York, and Singapore/Hong Kong.

Emerging Crypto Index composition

• ▪The CME CF Emerging Crypto Index tracks 10 assets: BNB, XRP, SOL, HYPE, LINK, Lumens, SUI, UNI, AVAX, and AAVE.
• ▪Under the CME CF Emerging Crypto Index methodology, assets not yet meeting U.S. generic listing standards can enter at inception with a maximum combined weight of 10% if compliance is expected within 30 days.
• ▪The CME CF Emerging Crypto Index methodology requires custody access, excludes meme coins, and applies a protocol-usage screen based on total value locked relative to full market capitalization.

Free-float market capitalization weighting

• ▪Under the free-float market capitalization weighting system, assets with a larger market value of tokens available to trade exert more influence on the CME Group indices.
• ▪Both the CME CF Crypto Market Index and the CME CF Emerging Crypto Index use free-float market capitalization weighting to determine constituent weights.

Semiannual reconstitution schedule

• ▪Both the CME CF Crypto Market Index and the CME CF Emerging Crypto Index are reconstituted and rebalanced semiannually on the first business day of June and December.
• ▪The CME CF Emerging Crypto Index targets the 10 largest qualifying assets outside Bitcoin and Ether, whereas the CME CF Crypto Market Index targets 12 qualifying assets.

Financial product licensing

• ▪The CME CF Emerging Crypto Index was designed to be investible, allowing for passive replication in funds and the settlement of derivatives.
• ▪CF Benchmarks offers licensing of both the CME CF Emerging Crypto Index and the CME CF Crypto Market Index for financial products, investment funds, and derivative instruments.

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