Core Insights - CME Group's Cryptocurrency futures and options suite achieved an all-time daily volume record of 794,903 contracts on November 21, surpassing the previous record of 728,475 contracts set on August 22, 2025 [1][2]. Trading Highlights - The demand for regulated crypto risk management tools is increasing amid market uncertainty, with both large institutions and retail traders contributing to record activity [2]. - Year-to-date, the overall cryptocurrency average daily volume (ADV) is 270,900 contracts, equivalent to $12 billion in notional value, reflecting a 132% increase year-over-year [5]. - The average open interest (OI) for the same period is 299,700 contracts, or $26.6 billion in notional value, which is an 82% increase year-over-year [5]. - In Q4, the ADV reached 403,200 contracts ($14.2 billion in notional), marking a 106% increase compared to Q4 2024, with average OI at 493,700 contracts ($35.4 billion in notional), up 117% year-over-year [5]. Product Suite Performance - The Micro Bitcoin futures and options reached a record daily volume of 210,347 contracts [4]. - The Micro futures and options suite also achieved a new daily volume record of 676,088 contracts [4].

Core Insights - MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX) reported a total trading average daily volume (ADV) of $38.8 billion in Q3 2025, reflecting a 4% year-over-year decrease due to declines in U.S. High-Grade Credit and U.S. Government Bonds [1][9] - The electronic trading platform facilitated over $932.4 billion in total credit trading volume during the same period [1] Trading Performance - Eurobonds and Emerging markets credit businesses experienced significant growth, with ADV increasing by 16% and 14% year-over-year, respectively, driven by new client-initiated and dealer-initiated trading initiatives [2] - High-grade markets saw a 7% decrease in ADV compared to the previous year, while agency and other government bonds experienced a 6% growth in ADV, with U.S. government bonds declining by 9%, leading to an overall 8% decrease in total rates trading [3] Transaction Fees and Market Share - Total credit average variable transaction fees per million (FPM) declined by 6% year-over-year due to protocol mix, while total rates fees remained stable [4] - MarketAxess' estimated market share of U.S. credit portfolio trading decreased to 19.1%, down from 20% a year ago [4] Strategic Initiatives - The company is expanding its dealer business and rolling out new tools for sell-side traders, diversifying beyond core fixed-income trading [5] - In June 2025, MarketAxess launched the first fully electronic trading workflow for Indian Government Bonds, accessible to Foreign Portfolio Investors [5] Peer Comparison - CME Group is expanding through global growth and product innovation, planning to offer 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options [6] - Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) is focusing on sustainability and emerging markets, with plans to launch ICE GreenTrac targeting global carbon markets [7] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - MarketAxess shares have declined by 25.7% year-to-date, contrasting with the industry's growth of 28.3% [8][9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 20.78X, which is higher than the industry average, and carries a Value Score of D [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 2025 earnings indicates a 2.6% decline year-over-year, while the full-year earnings consensus predicts a 2.2% increase [12]

Core Insights - CME Group will launch 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options products in early 2026, pending regulatory review, to meet increasing client demand for continuous risk management in the cryptocurrency market [1][8] Client Demand - Tim McCourt, global head of equities, FX, and alternative products at CME Group, highlighted the necessity of aligning regulated markets with the fast-paced digital asset sector to cater to client needs [2][3] Trading Operations - The cryptocurrency futures and options will trade continuously on the CME Globex platform, with only a two-hour weekly maintenance pause scheduled over the weekend [3] - Any trades conducted during weekends or holidays will be recorded with the following business day as the official trade date, ensuring consistent clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting [4] Market Activity - CME Group reported record growth in its cryptocurrency derivatives complex, with notional open interest reaching $39 billion in September 2025 [5] - August 2025 saw an average daily open interest of 335,200 contracts, a 95% year-on-year increase, representing $31.6 billion in notional value, and an average daily trading volume of 411,000 contracts, a 230% increase from the previous year, equivalent to $14.9 billion in notional value [6] Market Expansion - CME Group offers a wide range of benchmark products across various asset classes, including digital assets, and operates through CME Globex, BrokerTec, and EBS, supported by CME Clearing [7] - The introduction of continuous trading for cryptocurrency products reflects the growing maturity of digital assets and strengthens CME's role as a bridge between traditional finance and the 24/7 nature of the crypto economy [8]

Core Insights - CME Group will offer 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options starting in early 2026, pending regulatory review [1][2] - The decision is driven by increasing client demand for continuous trading to manage risk effectively [2] - CME Group's cryptocurrency products have seen record trading volumes in 2025, indicating strong market interest [3][5] Trading Details - The continuous trading will occur on the CME Globex platform, with a two-hour maintenance period each week [2] - All trades executed during holidays or weekends will be dated for the next business day, with clearing and settlement processed accordingly [2] Market Performance - CME Group reported a record notional open interest of $39 billion on September 18, 2025 [5] - August 2025 saw an average daily open interest of 335,200 contracts, a 95% increase year-on-year, representing an average notional value of $31.6 billion [5] - The average daily volume (ADV) for August reached 411,000 contracts, up 230% year-on-year, equating to a notional value of $14.9 billion [5] - There were over 1,010 large open interest holders in cryptocurrency products during the week of September 25, 2025 [5]

Core Insights - CME Group reported record average daily volume (ADV) for Q1 2025, reaching 29.8 million contracts, and the second-highest March ADV at 30.8 million contracts, reflecting strong market activity across various asset classes [1][4] Q1 2025 Performance - The company's ADV grew 13% year-over-year, with notable increases in interest rate, equity index, agricultural, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrency products [2] - U.S. Treasury complex achieved a quarterly ADV record of 9.2 million contracts, while Henry Hub Natural Gas complex set a record of 1.1 million contracts [2][4] March 2025 Highlights - March ADV increased by 27% year-over-year, with a record monthly equity index ADV of 9.7 million contracts [3][4] - Interest Rate ADV reached 14.6 million contracts, marking a 31% increase compared to the previous year [3] Record Volumes Across Asset Classes - Interest Rate ADV reached a record of 15 million contracts, with U.S. Treasury futures and options ADV at 9.2 million contracts [5] - Equity Index ADV set a record at 8 million contracts, with Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures achieving 1.8 million contracts [5] - Energy ADV increased by 20% to 2.9 million contracts, with record volumes in Henry Hub Natural Gas futures and options [5] - Agricultural ADV reached 2 million contracts, with corn futures ADV increasing by 44% to 520,000 contracts [5] - Foreign Exchange ADV set a record at 1.1 million contracts, with Canadian Dollar futures at 125,000 contracts [5] - Cryptocurrency ADV reached a record of 198,000 contracts, representing $11.3 billion notional [5] International Market Activity - The company reported a record quarterly international ADV of 8.8 million contracts, with EMEA ADV at 6.5 million contracts and Asia ADV at 2 million contracts [5]