CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, achieved a new record for October trading activity with an average daily volume (ADV) of 26.3 million contracts, marking an 8% year-over-year increase. The milestone surpasses the company’s previous October record of 25.2 million contracts set in 2023, underscoring continued growth in trading across global markets.

The record performance was powered by exceptional gains in key segments including Metals, Cryptocurrencies, and Agricultural commodities. Metals ADV soared 165% — the strongest year-over-year gain — driven by surging activity in Micro Gold, Micro Silver, 1-Ounce Gold futures, and Gold options. Meanwhile, CME’s cryptocurrency products saw volumes more than triple, reflecting renewed institutional interest in digital assets as market volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty fueled demand for hedging instruments.

“CME Group continues to demonstrate unmatched market resilience and global relevance across asset classes,” the company said in a statement. “This record October reflects how our clients around the world are using our diverse products to manage risk and seize opportunity amid changing market dynamics.”

Takeaway

CME Group’s record October showcases the breadth of its derivatives ecosystem — from precious metals and crypto to agriculture — reaffirming its position as a global trading powerhouse.

Explosive Growth in Metals, Agriculture, and Crypto

October’s standout performer was Metals trading, which saw record volumes across multiple products. Micro Gold futures surged to a record ADV of 704,000 contracts, Gold options reached 156,000, and Micro Silver futures rose to 96,000 contracts. Additionally, the new 1-Ounce Gold futures achieved an ADV of 80,000 contracts, reflecting rising retail and institutional interest in smaller, more accessible contract sizes.

In the Agricultural sector, CME posted record highs in both Soybean futures and options, with ADV climbing to 400,000 and 138,000 contracts respectively — an indication of heightened volatility and demand for commodities linked to global food supply trends. Meanwhile, Energy trading remained stable, up 1% overall, with Henry Hub Natural Gas options up 31% to 317,000 contracts.

The most explosive growth came from CME’s Cryptocurrency segment, which recorded a 226% year-over-year increase. Micro Ether futures led the surge, soaring 583% to 222,000 contracts, while Ether futures advanced 357% and Micro Bitcoin futures rose 60%. With cryptocurrency ADV reaching 379,000 contracts ($15.3 billion notional), CME continues to dominate the regulated digital asset derivatives landscape.

Takeaway

Metals and crypto led CME’s volume expansion, with Micro Gold and Micro Ether setting the pace for diversified retail and institutional adoption.

Global Participation and Market Resilience

Global participation also reached new heights. International ADV climbed 13% to 8.2 million contracts, with Asia-Pacific (APAC) volumes up 29%, EMEA up 9%, and Latin America up 22%. This expansion reflects CME’s growing global footprint and the increasing role of international participants in driving liquidity across asset classes.

In fixed income markets, Interest Rate ADV reached 11.6 million contracts, buoyed by a 49% rise in 30-Day Fed Funds futures. Equity Index futures maintained strong momentum with 7.6 million contracts, led by the Micro E-mini Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500, both up 37%. Meanwhile, CME’s BrokerTec U.S. Repo platform hit a new record with average daily notional value (ADNV) of $392 billion, up 24% year-over-year.

At the same time, customer collateral balances to meet performance bond requirements averaged $135 billion in cash and $156.2 billion in non-cash collateral for the quarter ending September 2025 — signaling robust market participation and strong institutional liquidity support.

Takeaway

CME’s record October demonstrates deep, geographically diverse liquidity across asset classes — solidifying its leadership as global markets adapt to macroeconomic shifts and digital transformation.