CME Group and Nasdaq have announced a ten-year extension of their exclusive licensing agreement, securing CME Group’s rights to list futures and options on futures based on the Nasdaq-100 and other Nasdaq indexes through 2039.

The deal continues a longstanding partnership that began nearly three decades ago and solidifies CME Group’s position as the exclusive venue for derivatives tied to the Nasdaq-100. This index, which tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq, serves as a widely followed benchmark for investors seeking exposure to technology and growth sectors.

“Deeply liquid Nasdaq futures and options on futures”

CME Group Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy commented, “Extending our exclusive licensing agreement with Nasdaq will ensure that global market participants continue to have seamless access to our deeply liquid Nasdaq futures and options on futures, which are among the world’s most actively traded financial products. Building on nearly 30 years of success, our partnership has enabled clients to manage risk or gain exposure to the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq, while providing significant capital efficiencies for those trading across our equity index complex.”

The collaboration between the two exchanges began with the launch of Nasdaq-100 futures in 1996, followed by the introduction of E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures in 1999. These contracts have since become some of the most actively traded in global equity derivatives markets. The Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures, introduced more recently, have also gained significant traction among market participants seeking smaller-sized contracts.

Year-to-date, average daily volume across the Nasdaq-100 futures and options complex has reached more than 2.5 million contracts, up 22 percent compared to the previous year. Within that, Q2 average daily volume for Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures increased 39 percent to 1.3 million contracts. Since the last license renewal in 2019, total volume for Nasdaq-100 products on CME Group has more than doubled.

Adena Friedman, Chair and CEO of Nasdaq, said, “The Nasdaq-100 Index is a cornerstone of modern investing, reflecting the performance of companies at the forefront of innovation and economic transformation. For almost 30 years, our partnership with CME Group has helped build a robust derivatives ecosystem that supports investor confidence and market integrity. This ten-year extension reflects our shared commitment to delivering enduring value through trusted benchmark products, reinforcing the infrastructure that enables global participation in the equity markets.”

The extension ensures continuity for a derivatives ecosystem that underpins hedging, speculation, and asset allocation strategies across global markets. CME Group continues to operate the world’s largest equity index futures complex, supported by Nasdaq’s role as a major provider of benchmark indexes and exchange technology.