Intercontinental Exchange Inc (NYSE:ICE) said on Tuesday it has launched a set of regulated cryptocurrency futures products that are tied to CoinDesk digital asset indices. The new contracts are cash-settled and denominated in U.S. dollars, and the exchange framed them as instruments for market participants to hedge exposure or access major cryptocurrencies without holding the underlying tokens.
The initial product offering comprises index-based futures and single-asset futures. ICE specified the following among the contracts:
- Futures linked to the CoinDesk 20 index
- Futures linked to the CoinDesk 5 index
- Single-asset futures for Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, XRP, and BNB
According to the company, the CoinDesk 20 is a broad-market benchmark that uses a capped market-capitalisation methodology and captures more than 90% of the digital asset market. ICE also reported that more than $40 billion in assets under management are already linked to CoinDesk indices.
ICE described the cash-settled nature of the contracts as allowing investors to hedge risk or gain exposure to the referenced cryptocurrencies while avoiding direct custody of the tokens. The exchange said the structure is intended to provide regulated derivatives tied to major digital assets for a range of market participants.
Looking ahead, ICE indicated plans to expand its digital asset product suite further by proposing a One-Month CoinDesk Overnight Rate USDC futures contract. That offering is conditional on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, the company said. No timeline for such approval was provided in the announcement.
The new set of futures adds to ICE's digital asset offerings and links existing index adoption to a regulated derivatives venue. ICE presented the product rollout as a way of extending benchmarks and hedging tools into crypto markets while noting that additional products remain subject to regulatory review.