ICE Launches CoinDesk Cryptocurrency Futures Contracts Across Seven Digital Asset Benchmarks
Intercontinental platform, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) has launched a suite of cryptocurrency futures contracts based on seven CoinDesk Indices, expanding its footprint in regulated digital asset derivatives markets.
The new contracts, which are U.S. dollar-denominated and cash-settled, include ICE CoinDesk 20 Index Futures, ICE CoinDesk 5 Index Futures, and single-asset futures tied to BTC, Ether, Solana, XRP and BNB.
The move deepens ICE’s existing relationship with CoinDesk and provides institutional market participants with additional regulated tools to gain exposure to digital asset benchmarks.
Seven Futures Contracts Based On CoinDesk Indices
The newly launched contracts are built on established CoinDesk benchmarks, including the flagship CoinDesk 20 Index and the CoinDesk 5 Index. Together, the indices track a significant portion of the global cryptocurrency market.
According to ICE, over $40 billion in assets under management are currently tied to CoinDesk Indices tracking cryptocurrencies such as BTC, Ether and Solana. The CoinDesk 20 Index alone captures over 90% of the digital asset market and has linked products worth more than $16 billion in total volume.
The CoinDesk 20 uses a capped market capitalization-weighted methodology designed to provide broad exposure and diversification across major digital assets including BTC, BNB, ETH and Solana, while the CoinDesk 5 tracks the five largest constituents of the CoinDesk 20 on a market cap-weighted basis.
“The digital asset space is evolving rapidly, and we are excited to collaborate with CoinDesk to launch these new futures contracts,” said Jennifer Ilkiw, President of ICE Futures U.S. “The launch expands ICE’s existing relationship with CoinDesk and will bring further transparency to the digital asset market.”
Takeaway
Cash-Settled Structure Targets Institutional Demand
All seven futures contracts are cash-settled in U.S. dollars, removing the need for physical delivery of cryptocurrencies and aligning with established derivatives market infrastructure. The structure is designed to appeal to institutional investors viewking capital-efficient exposure within a regulated framework.
By referencing CoinDesk Indices, ICE aims to provide standardized and transparent pricing mechanisms tied to widely recognized digital asset benchmarks. The launch also reflects broader industry efforts to integrate crypto benchmarks into mainstream derivatives markets.
David LaValle, President of CoinDesk Data and Indices, said: “CoinDesk Indices were built to serve as trusted benchmarks for the , and this launch with ICE advances that mission into regulated futures markets.”
He added: “The partnership expands the reach of our benchmarks while offering market participants familiar, transparent, and reliable ways to assets.”
Takeaway
ICE Plans Additional DeFi-Linked Rate Futures
Alongside the index futures launch, ICE also announced plans to introduce One Month CoinDesk Overnight Rates (CDOR) USDC futures, subject to regulatory review. The contracts will be based on CoinDesk’s Overnight Rate.
CDOR rates are daily benchmarks reflecting the annualized effective interest rate paid by borrowers in decentralized finance markets. ICE said the structure is designed to mirror traditional overnight rate benchmarks such as SOFR or €STR, positioning the product within a familiar interest rate derivatives framework.
The introduction of CDOR-based futures would mark a further step in bridging decentralized finance metrics with regulated derivatives markets, expanding the toolkit available to ecosystems.
