Overview
- CME Group plans to list bitcoin volatility futures on June 1, with the start date subject to review and approval by the CFTC.
- The new futures settle to the CME CF Bitcoin Volatility Index (BVX), a one‑month implied volatility gauge built from live bitcoin options data.
- Each contract is sized at $500 times the BVX value, giving traders a simple way to go long or short volatility without taking a bet on bitcoin’s direction.
- CME says the product adds a regulated tool for risk management, and market voices highlight its appeal for institutional desks that need onshore access.
- Offshore venues like Deribit already list similar contracts, but CME’s move builds on its bitcoin futures and options launched in 2017 and follows wider adoption after spot bitcoin ETFs arrived in 2024.