Nasdaq CME Crypto Index - Product Overview
Navigating the crypto market with Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures
As the cryptocurrency market matures, investor strategies are evolving. Many participants are shifting their focus from picking individual coins to seeking broad-based index exposure. To meet this demand, CME Group offers a regulated pathway to track the broader digital asset landscape through the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index (NCI) and the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index.
These indices are designed to measure the performance of a significant portion of the cryptocurrency market, serving as a critical benchmark for institutional investment in this emerging asset class.
The power of diversification
Unlike single-asset investments, which tie performance to one specific coin, the Nasdaq CME Crypto Indices offer diversified exposure. By capturing broad market movements across multiple cryptocurrencies, these indices help mitigate the idiosyncratic risks associated with individual tokens.
Tailored exposure: NCI vs. Micro NCI futures
CME Group brings the power of regulated, cash-settled futures to this index with two distinct contract sizes, allowing market participants to choose the level of granularity that best fits their capital requirements and strategy.
1. Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures (NCI)
The standard NCI contract is designed for those seeking significant exposure to the index.
- Product code: NCI
- Contract size: $10 x the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index
- Minimum tick: 2.50 index points ($25.00 per contract)
2. Micro Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures (MCI)
For market participants looking for more precise or granular exposure, the Micro contract offers the same benefits at a fraction of the size.
- Product code: MCI
- Contract size: $1 x the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index
- Minimum tick: 1.25 index points ($1.25 per contract)
Trading flexibility and precision
Both the NCI and MCI contracts are built to provide flexibility for sophisticated trading strategies, such as managing rolls or capturing precise price movements:
- Calendar spreads: Market participants can benefit from lower tick increments for spreads, as low as 0.50 for NCI and 0.25 for MCI.
- Final settlement: Both contracts feature highly precise final settlement ticks of 0.01 index points, ensuring accurate alignment with the underlying index at expiration.
Conclusion
Whether your goal is to diversify a crypto portfolio, hedge existing spot positions or simply gain broad market exposure, Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures provide a transparent, regulated and capital-efficient way to participate in the growing digital asset ecosystem.