Crypto: Cme CEO Duffy Says Exchange Is Exploring Issuing Its Own Token

Speaking on the company's earnings call, CEO Terry Duffy said the exchange is exploring a CME-issued token and is also piloting tokenized cash infrastructure with Google.

Chicago-based derivatives exchange CME Group is weighing the launch of its own digital token as it explores how tokenized assets could be used as collateral across financial markets, according to comments from CEO Terry Duffy.

Speaking on a company earnings call, Duffy said CME is reviewing different forms of margin, including tokenized cash and a CME-issued token that could operate on a decentralized network. He said:

He added that collateral issued by a “systemically important financial institution” may offer greater comfort to market participants than tokens issued by a “third or fourth-tier bank trying to issue a token for margin.”

Duffy’s reference to tokenized cash points to a collaboration with Google announced in March, in which CME Group and Google Cloud said they had begun piloting blockchain-based infrastructure for wholesale payments and asset tokenization using Google Cloud’s Universal Ledger.

The potential CME-issued token would be a separate initiative, and the exchange did not specify how it would function.

CME Group is a derivatives exchange that operates futures and options markets across rates, equities, commodities and cryptocurrencies.

In January, CME said it plans to expand its regulated crypto offerings by listing futures contracts tied to Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK) and Stellar (XLM). Separately, it agreed with Nasdaq to unify its crypto index offerings under the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index.

The exchange also recently said it plans to introduce 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options beginning in early 2026, pending regulatory approval.

Related: CME launches Bitcoin volatility index as institutional crypto trading matures

Source: CoinTelegraph