The two major US exchanges, Nasdaq and CME, announced the merger of their cryptocurrency indices, launching the “Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index” which tracks seven mainstream cryptocurrencies. Industry experts believe this will promote the development of index-based crypto ETFs.
(Previous recap: 2025 Crypto ETF Review: Bitcoin and Ethereum flourish, with more coins like XRP joining the feast)
(Additional background: CME( launched Bitcoin Fear Index BVX, BVXS, quantifying BTC implied volatility)

Table of Contents

• Tracking Seven Major Cryptocurrencies
• Index ETFs Lower Investment Barriers
• Institutional Adoption Continues to Accelerate

Nasdaq Stock Market and CME Group announced on Thursday the merger of their cryptocurrency indices, renaming the original “Nasdaq Crypto Index” (NCI) to the “Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index.”

Tracking Seven Major Cryptocurrencies

This benchmark index will track seven mainstream cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Solana (SOL), Chainlink (LINK), Cardano (ADA), and Avalanche (AVAX).

Sean Wasserman, Nasdaq’s Index Product Management Head, stated:

We believe that index-based investing is the way forward for investors, surpassing the simple approach of investing only in Bitcoin.

Wasserman pointed out that this is similar to the use of representative indices in other asset classes, providing investors with a more comprehensive market exposure.

Index ETFs Lower Investment Barriers

According to CoinMarketCap data, as of press time, approximately 29.66 million cryptocurrencies are listed on the platform, with the number of tokens significantly increasing in 2024.

Will Peck from WisdomTree said that crypto index ETFs eliminate the technical complexity for passive investors analyzing diverse digital assets, making it easier for ordinary investors to participate in the crypto market.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan expressed optimism about the growth of crypto index products by 2026:

Investors want to make small passive allocations without delving into detailed analysis of each industry sector, which will drive the development of index-based crypto products.

Institutional Adoption Continues to Accelerate

This collaboration between Nasdaq and CME marks further integration of traditional financial infrastructure with the cryptocurrency market. As more institutional investors seek ways to enter the crypto space, index products offer familiar and compliant investment tools.

This also echoes the recent booming development of the crypto ETF market. In February this year, Hashdex launched the first spot ETF in the US tracking multiple digital assets based on the Nasdaq Crypto Index. Asset management firms like Franklin D. D. D. D. D., Grayscale, Bitwise, 21Shares, and CoinShares have also launched similar products.

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