Will bitcoin futures affect the price of bitcoin

1. What is the relationship between Bitcoin futures and the underlying spot market?

CME Bitcoin futures are based on the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR), which aggregates bitcoin trading activity across major bitcoin spot exchanges between p.m. and p.m. London time.

2. On which exchange is Bitcoin futures listed?

Bitcoin futures are listed and cleared on CME, a US-registered designated contract market (DCM) and derivatives clearing organization (DCO).

3. What regulation applies to the trading of Bitcoin futures?

The trading and clearing of Bitcoin futures is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the regulatory body with exclusive jurisdiction over US Bitcoin futures markets.

4. What accounting and other regulatory treatment is afforded to Bitcoin futures in my local jurisdiction?

As with any other derivatives product, the accounting treatment of positions in Bitcoin futures, and the general local regulatory treatment of trading in Bitcoin derivatives, may differ by country and between competent jurisdictions. Market participants are responsible for complying with all applicable US and local requirements. Market participants, particularly those with no experience in trading Bitcoin derivatives, should seek professional counsel as necessary and appropriate to their circumstances.

5. Which platforms support Bitcoin futures trading?

Central limit order book via the CME Globex platform and ex-pit trade submission for clearing via CME ClearPort and CME Direct.

6. Do I need a digital wallet to trade Bitcoin futures?

No. You do not need a digital wallet, because Bitcoin futures are financially-settled and therefore do not involve the exchange of bitcoin.

In order to trade futures, you must open an account with a registered futures broker who will maintain your account and guarantee your trades. In the futures business, brokerage firms are known as either a futures commission merchant (FCM), or an introducing broker (IB).

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7. What are the contract specifications?

8. Are Bitcoin futures available for trading 24/7?

Yes, BTC can be transacted 24/7. Bilateral transactions such as block trades, pursuant to Rule , and EFRPs (Exchange for Related Position), pursuant to Rule , may be negotiated/executed 24/7 and must be submitted for clearing during the appropriate clearing session. Globex, our electronic platform, is available 23 hours per day beginning Sunday evening at 5∶00pm Central Time and ending at 4∶00pm CT Friday afternoon.

9. Are bitcoin futures block eligible?

Yes, block transactions are allowed for Bitcoin futures, subject to reporting requirements per Rule   The minimum block threshold is 5 contracts.

Are Bitcoin futures EFP/EFRP-eligible?

Yes, Bitcoin futures are EFP/EFRP-eligible.

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How is the Bitcoin futures daily settlement price determined?

Daily settlement is based on the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of CME Globex trades between p.m. and p.m. Central Time rounded to the nearest tradable tick.

Are Bitcoin futures subject to price limits?

Yes, Bitcoin futures are subject to price limits on a dynamic basis. At the commencement of each trading day, Bitcoin futures, are assigned a price limit variant which equals a percentage of the prior day’s Exchange-determined settlement price, or a price deemed appropriate by the GCC. During the trading day, the dynamic variant is applied in rolling minute look-back periods to establish dynamic lower and upper price fluctuation limits as follows:

• The dynamic variant are subtracted from the highest trade and/or bid price during a look-back period to establish the lower price fluctuation limit
• The dynamic variant are added to the lowest trade and/or offer price during a look-back period to establish the upper price fluctuation limit

How is Bitcoin futures final settlement price determined?

The final settlement value is based on the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR) at p.m. London time on the expiration day of the futures contract.

What is the maximum order size for Bitcoin futures on CME Globex?

The maximum order size is contracts.

Are options on Bitcoin futures available for trading?

Yes, based on growing interest in cryptocurrencies and strong demand for more tools to manage bitcoin exposure, CME Group listed options on Bitcoin futures on January 13,

See more at tallerembajador.com.mx

Through which market data channel are these products available?

Bitcoin futures real-time market data is available on MDP Channel , and Bitcoin futures historical data is available through CME DataMine.

Additionally, real time-market data for the underlying BRR Index is available through MDP Channel during normal market hours, while also available 24/7 through CME DataMine’s Streaming Service. BRR and BRTI historical data is available through CME DataMine.

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CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR)

What is the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate (BRR)?

Designed by CME Group and CF Benchmarks, around the IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks, the BRR is a daily reference rate of the U.S. Dollar price of one bitcoin as of p.m. London time. It is representative of the bitcoin trading activity on Constituent Exchanges and is geared towards resilience and replicability.

Learn more about the BRR

How is the BRR calculated?

The BRR is calculated based on the relevant bitcoin transactions on all Constituent Exchanges between p.m. and p.m. London time. The price and size of each relevant transaction is recorded and added to a list which is portioned into 12 equally-weighted time intervals of 5 minutes each. For each partition, a volume-weighted median trade price is calculated from the trade prices and sizes of the relevant transactions across all the Constituent Exchanges. The BRR is then determined by taking an equally-weighted average of the volume-weighted medians of all partitions.

View BRR Methodology

Where can I find more information on the BRR Constituent Exchanges?

Are Constituent Exchanges KYC/AML (Know Your Client/Anti-Money Laundering) compliant?

Although all Constituent Exchanges in the BRR are unregulated, each exchange has proactively instituted KYC/AML policies.

What are the fees for Bitcoin futures?

Fees can be found on the CME Fee Schedule. 

View latest Fee Schedule

In which division do Bitcoin futures reside?

Bitcoin futures are listed on CME and reside in the IOM Division.

What are the margin requirements for Bitcoin futures?

Exchange margin requirements may be found at tallerembajador.com.mx Note: clearing firms may require a margin level beyond CME Clearing’s minimum requirement.

Is there a cap on clearing liability for Bitcoin futures?

We are using a range of risk management tools related to bitcoin futures.  CME Clearing retains the right to impose exposure limits, additional capital requirements, and other targeted risk management tools if we see exposures that we determine might become a concern in any product or market.  Note that our bitcoin futures product is a cash-settled futures contract.  As such, margins will be set in line with the volatility and liquidity profile of the product.  Further, we also have the ability for clearing members to impose trading or exposure limits on their clients.  Other tools may include increased capital or margin requirements in cases where exposures increase beyond reasonable levels.

Where do Bitcoin futures fall in CME Clearing’s guarantee fund?

Bitcoin futures fall into CME’s Base Guaranty Fund for futures and options on futures.

For all other inquiries regarding margins or CME Clearing’s approach to risk management, please contact tallerembajador.com.mxnagement@tallerembajador.com.mx

What calendar spreads does CME Group list?

CME Group will list all possible combinations of the listed months.

What are the ticker symbol conventions for calendar spread trading?

Buying the spread is equivalent to buying the deferred contract month, for example:

BTCF0 – BTCH0 is the Jan20/Mar20 spread. Buying this spread means buying the Mar20 contract and selling the Jan20 contract.

If you are long the Jan20 contract, buying the Jan/Mar spread will extend your expiration into March.

View contract month codes

What does the spread price signify? How are separate contract priced when I do a spread trade?

The price of the spread trade is the price of the deferred expiration less the price of the nearby expiration.  After the spread trade is done, the price of the two contracts will be determined using the following convention: 

The nearby contract is priced at its daily settlement price on the previous day. The deferred contract is priced is nearby contract’s assigned price plus the spread price.

For example,

• Bought BTCF0-BTCH0 @
• Assuming BTCF0 prior settle =
• Price of the two legs: sold BTCF0 @ , bought BTCH0 @ + () =

What is CME Group’s policy regarding hard forks?

In the event of a hard fork, bitcoin futures shall continue to settle to the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate corresponding to the original token pair (BTC:USD). The Exchange may, in its sole discretion, take alternative action with respect to hard forks in consultation with market participants as may be appropriate.

How can I access CME Globex?

To access CME Globex, you must have a relationship with a CME Clearing Member Firm.

Learn more about connecting to CME Globex

Where can I find more information on CME Bitcoin futures?

Visit tallerembajador.com.mx for the latest information on Bitcoin futures.

Where can I see prices for Bitcoin futures?

Delayed quotes will be available on tallerembajador.com.mx You can also access quotes through major quote vendors.

View delayed quotes

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¹ a.m. – a.m. EST OR a.m. – p.m. EDT

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Neither futures trading nor swaps trading are suitable for all investors, and each involves the risk of loss.  Swaps trading should only be undertaken by investors who are Eligible Contract Participants (ECPs) within the meaning of Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act.  Futures and swaps each are leveraged investments and, because only a percentage of a contract’s value is required to trade, it is possible to lose more than the amount of money deposited for either a futures or swaps position.  Therefore, traders should only use funds that they can afford to lose without affecting their lifestyles and only a portion of those funds should be devoted to any one trade because traders cannot expect to profit on every trade. 

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The information within this communication has been compiled by CME Group for general purposes only. CME Group assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Additionally, all examples in this communication are hypothetical situations, used for explanation purposes only, and should not be considered investment advice or the results of actual market experience.  All matters pertaining to rules and specifications herein are made subject to and superseded by official CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX rules. Current rules should be consulted in all cases concerning contract specifications.

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