February 11 News, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has officially launched a series of cryptocurrency futures products linked to the CoinDesk benchmark indices, marking a new phase in the regulated market’s deployment of digital asset derivatives. These contracts are settled in US dollars cash, providing institutional investors with a compliant channel to participate in the volatility of mainstream crypto markets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum without directly holding or custodying the assets.
ICE stated that this batch of futures was first announced externally on January 9 and has begun trading this week. It includes a wide range of market contracts linked to the CoinDesk 20 and CoinDesk 5 indices, as well as single-asset futures tracking the price performance of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and BNB. Since these products do not involve physical delivery, they are more aligned with traditional institutions’ risk management and asset allocation needs.
More notably, ICE plans to launch USDC futures based on the CoinDesk overnight rate, with a one-month term, currently awaiting regulatory approval. This rate is derived from decentralized finance lending markets, reflecting on-chain real funding costs, and is logically similar to traditional overnight benchmark rates such as SOFR. This means that in the future, traders will not only be able to bet on price movements but also price the liquidity, borrowing costs, and capital tightness of the crypto market.
Industry experts believe that this move is reshaping the financial attributes of digital assets, gradually transforming them from mere speculative targets into market tools with comprehensive financing and credit pricing functions. ICE also pointed out that the CoinDesk indices are currently linked to hundreds of billions of dollars in assets, with the CoinDesk 20 weighted by market capitalization, covering most of the digital asset market performance.
As regulated derivatives and DeFi interest rate mechanisms merge, the boundary between traditional capital and on-chain finance is being redefined, and the pricing system of the crypto market is expected to move toward a more mature stage.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Bitcoin Swings on Hormuz Strait Reports, Triggering $762M in Liquidations
Bitcoin rose to $78,000 but dropped to $76,091 following reports of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's actions triggered $762 million in liquidations among traders, with implications for crypto markets as Iran accepts payments in bitcoin and other currencies to navigate sanctions.
GateNews3h ago
Solana Price Stalls Near $80 as ETF Outflows Weigh
Solana trades around $80, facing bearish sentiment due to ETF outflows and declining retail participation. Technical indicators show mixed signals, with resistance at $87 and $98, while support at $77 remains critical for stability.
CryptoFrontNews4h ago
XRP Consolidation Signals Reset as Bullish Setup Emerges
XRP has recently rebounded to $1.39 after trading between $1.20 and $1.40 due to improved market sentiment. A significant drop in futures open interest reflects reduced speculation, while technical indicators suggest a potential bullish breakout, targeting $1.50 and possibly $1.80.
CryptoNewsLand9h ago
SUI Volume Surges 37% as Price Stabilizes Near Key Base
Key Insights
SUI trading volume surged by 37%, signaling renewed participation as the price stabilizes near 0.97, reflecting a transition from prolonged downtrend conditions
Futures inflows and bullish long-short ratios indicate rising speculative interest, while liquidation trends show
CryptoNewsLand10h ago
$773M Crypto Liquidations Hit Shorts on April 18
On April 18, 2026, crypto markets saw $773 million in liquidations, primarily affecting short traders (77% of losses) due to a sudden price rise. This incident highlighted the risks of leverage in trading, leading to forced position closures.
CryptoFrontier14h ago
Newly Created Wallet Deposits $1.99M USDC to Hyperliquid, Opens 5x Leveraged ASTER Long
Gate News message, April 18 — According to Onchain Lens, a newly created wallet deposited $1.99 million USDC to Hyperliquid and opened a 5x leveraged long position in ASTER.
GateNews04-18 01:31
