CME Group to launch micro and large Solana futures contracts on 17 March amid meme coin controversy

CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, has announced plans to launch Solana (SOL) futures contracts on 17 March, subject to regulatory approval. The new contracts will be available in two sizes: a micro-sized contract (25 SOL) and a larger-sized contract (500 SOL).

The announcement comes at a stressed time for Solana, as the network has recently been grappling with the fallout from a tumultuous period involving meme coins and associated controversies. In late 2024 and early 2025, Solana became the go-to platform for meme coins such as dogwifhat (WIF), bonk (BONK), and book of meme (BOME), leading to a surge in activity on the network. However, this boom was followed by a significant downturn, with a $22 billion wipeout in the memecoin market severely impacting SOL's performance.

Several high-profile meme coin launches on Solana have led to scandals and increased scrutiny. The LIBRA token, promoted by figures linked to Argentina's political elite, suffered an abrupt rug pull, leading to calls for the impeachment of Argentina's President Javier Milei, who had endorsed the project on social media. Other controversial launches, such as the Trump and Melania coins and the Hawk Tuah token, have further damaged trust in Solana-based meme coins.

Meme coin frenzy has also led to significant strain on the Solana network, with users reporting failed transactions and a 60% drop in network transactions following the LIBRA scandal. Analysts suggest that excessive speculation on meme coins is a key reason why altcoins, including Solana, are underperforming compared to Bitcoin. Investor confidence in Solana's DeFi and trading ecosystem has weakened, with DEX trading volumes dropping significantly.

Despite these challenges, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has taken a pragmatic view, describing meme coin trading as "bizarre" but welcoming the stress test it provided for the network. He suggested that working out these issues now could be beneficial for Solana's long-term development.

Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group, stated, "With the launch of our new SOL futures contracts, we are responding to increasing client demand for a broader set of regulated products to manage cryptocurrency price risk. As Solana continues to evolve into the platform of choice for developers and investors, these new futures contracts will provide a capital-efficient tool to support their investment and hedging strategies."

The launch of CME Group's Solana futures contracts represents a significant step towards institutional adoption and could potentially help stabilize Solana's market position amidst the recent controversies. The introduction of these regulated products may provide a more stable and mature trading environment for Solana, potentially shifting focus away from the volatile meme coin market.

Industry experts have welcomed the announcement, with Teddy Fusaro, President of Bitwise Asset Management, Inc., stating, "The launch of SOL futures is a significant milestone in the ongoing maturation of the cryptocurrency market. This announcement underscores CME Group's commitment to and leadership in offering institutional investors and active traders advanced tools for trading and risk management."

Kyle Samani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Multicoin Capital, expressed support for the new offering, saying, "Multicoin Capital applauds CME Group's continued innovation in the digital asset space and is proud to support the launch of their SOL derivatives offering. As the digital asset market matures and demand continues to grow, sophisticated investors need better ways to get exposure and manage volatility. CME Group's new crypto derivatives provide just that, giving investors increased flexibility with less upfront capital."

"The new SOL futures contracts are further examples of CME Group innovating in the retail crypto trading space for the benefit of customers," said Elad Even-Chen, Group CFO of Plus500. "These contracts will bring a new dimension for retail futures traders and will help manage their cryptocurrency portfolios by allowing them to further diversify their holdings. We are proud to be supporting this latest product launch, which is based on scalable, well-established and trusted cryptocurrencies."

The SOL futures will be listed on and subject to the rules of CME. More information on these products can be found at www.cmegroup.com/sol.