The largest regulated derivatives exchange, CME Group, plans to launch Solana-based futures on March 17, pending regulatory approval.

The new instruments will be available in two variants:

Micro contracts — based on 25 SOL
Larger contracts — based on 500 SOL

“The launch of SOL futures is a response to growing demand from clients looking to hedge risks with regulated instruments,” said Giovanni Vicioso, Head of Crypto Products at CME Group.

According to him, Solana continues to strengthen its position as a popular platform among developers and investors, and such derivatives will serve as capital-efficient risk management tools.

Some market experts believe that the upcoming launch of these instruments could be a precursor to an ETF.

“CME’s decision to add SOL contracts significantly increases the likelihood of corresponding spot ETFs receiving approval in the near future,” said Sui Chung, CEO of CF Benchmarks.

He noted that the SEC traditionally considers the presence of a regulated futures market as a key condition for approving spot ETFs. This helps identify potential market manipulators and reduces risks for investors. However, before making a final decision, regulators will likely observe trading activity on CME for several months.

At the time of writing, SOL is trading around $143, having risen 13.7% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko.

In January, information about XRP and Solana-based futures appeared on a CME subdomain.