CFTC Approves Kalshi to Offer Bitcoin Perpetual Futures
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 02 2026
0mins
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission last week approved Kalshi to offer bitcoin perpetual futures in the U.S. on regulated markets, which is causing volatility in exchange stocks, TD Cowen told investors in a research note. TD believes the approval likely creates more competition in the retail market, and is likely to curtail multiples on selected Eechanges, most notably Cboe Global Markets (CBOE). The firm sees Cboe most at risk, followed by CME Group (CME) and IntercontinentalExchange (ICE). It sees little risk to Nasdaq (NDAQ) and Marex Group (MRX). All five stocks, in addition to Miami International (MIAX), are lower in midday trading.
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Analyst Views on CME
Wall Street analysts forecast CME stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
4 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 252.030
Low
209.00
Averages
285.90
High
320.00
Current: 252.030
Low
209.00
Averages
285.90
High
320.00
About CME
CME Group Inc. provides a derivatives marketplace. The Company enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and over the counter (OTC) markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data. It exchanges offer a range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange (FX), energy, agricultural products and metals. It offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and FX trading on the EBS platform. In addition, it operates central counterparty clearing provider, CME Clearing. Its products provide a means for hedging, speculation and asset allocation related to the risks associated with, among other things, interest rate sensitive instruments, and changes in the prices of agricultural, energy and metal commodities. It provides clearing and settlement services for a range of exchange-traded futures and options on futures contracts and OTC derivatives.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Market Demand Response: Giovanni Vicioso, CME's global head of cryptocurrency products, noted that as market volatility increases, investors are increasingly seeking diversified exposure to the cryptocurrency ecosystem while maintaining capital efficiency and transparency, enhancing the appeal of the new contracts.
- Risk Hedging Tool: The new contracts provide clients with a cost-efficient tool to hedge risks or directly pursue broad-based crypto opportunities, reflecting CME's strategic positioning in the crypto market and its keen insight into customer needs.
- Intensifying Industry Competition: With CME's new contract launch, competitors like Cboe and ICE are also facing concerns related to competition over perpetual futures, indicating that the crypto futures market is becoming increasingly competitive, which could impact market share across major exchanges.
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- Investor Misconceptions: Many novice investors mistakenly judge a company's worth solely by its stock price, but market capitalization provides a more accurate basis for comparison, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of investment decisions by avoiding price-related misunderstandings.
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- New Product Launch: CME Group announced the launch of Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures on Tuesday, with contracts financially settled to the Nasdaq CME Crypto Settlement Price Index, covering cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, aimed at meeting investor demand for diversified crypto assets.
- Market Demand Response: Giovanni Vicioso, CME's global head of cryptocurrency products, noted that as market volatility increases, investors are increasingly seeking diversified exposure to the cryptocurrency ecosystem while maintaining capital efficiency and transparency, enhancing the appeal of the new contracts.
- Risk Hedging Tool: The new contracts provide clients with a cost-efficient tool to hedge risks or directly pursue broad-based crypto opportunities, reflecting CME's strategic positioning in the crypto market and its keen insight into customer needs.
- Intensifying Industry Competition: With CME's new contract launch, competitors like Cboe and ICE are also facing concerns related to competition over perpetual futures, indicating that the crypto futures market is becoming increasingly competitive, which could impact market share across major exchanges.
See More
Rising Rate Hike Risks as Trump Pressures Fed
- Inflation Pressure Intensifies: The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) stands at 3.8%, significantly above the Fed's historical target of 2%, with forecasts suggesting it could reach 6% by Q2 2026, compelling the Fed to consider rate hikes to control inflation, which could impact economic growth and corporate financing costs.
- Rising Rate Hike Probability: According to CME Group's FedWatch, the probability of a rate increase within 2026 is as high as 50.9%, jumping to 72% by mid-2027, indicating a growing market expectation for higher rates that may lead to stock market volatility.
- Trump Pressures the Fed: President Trump desires quick rate cuts from new Fed Chair Warsh, yet the reality is that Warsh may need to raise rates to combat inflation, placing him in a dilemma between political pressure and economic responsibility.
- Investor Strategy: In light of rising rate hike risks, investors should focus on financially sound companies and value stocks, particularly large banks and energy stocks, as they may perform better in a high-rate environment, helping to mitigate potential market losses.
See More
Trump's Rate Cut Expectations Clash with Fed's Inflation Concerns
- Interest Rates and Economy: Low interest rates allow companies to borrow more cheaply, facilitating expansion plans and boosting earnings, which in turn drives stock prices up, highlighting the close relationship between economic performance and political outcomes.
- Rising Inflation Pressure: The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) stands at 3.8%, significantly above the Fed's 2% target, with forecasts suggesting it could reach 6% by Q2 2026, compelling the Fed to consider rate hikes to control inflation.
- Fed Policy Outlook: According to CME Group's FedWatch, the probability of a rate increase by the end of 2026 is as high as 50.9%, while the likelihood of a rate cut is only 3.6%, indicating market concerns about future interest rate directions that could impact investor confidence.
- Trump's Pressure: President Trump is pressuring new Fed Chair Warsh to cut rates quickly, but if Warsh opts for rate hikes to combat inflation, it could lead to Trump's dissatisfaction, potentially undermining his political support base.
See More
New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Faces Policy Challenges Amid Strong Jobs Report
- Jobs Report Impact: The unexpected addition of 172,000 jobs in May has significantly diminished the likelihood of interest rate cuts, highlighting the increasingly complex policy path for the Fed amid high inflation and geopolitical uncertainties.
- Internal Challenges Intensify: Several Fed officials have publicly questioned Warsh's policy assumptions, particularly regarding the optimistic view of AI's impact on inflation, which could shift market psychology and inflation expectations.
- Rate Expectation Shifts: Market expectations have adjusted, lowering the chances of a rate cut at the June meeting while raising the likelihood of a hike by the end of 2026 to about 70%, indicating a cautious investor sentiment regarding future monetary policy.
- Cautious Guidance: Multiple Fed officials have urged caution in response to potential temporary price spikes from energy supply shocks, challenging Warsh's stance on forward guidance and emphasizing the need for careful consideration amid rising uncertainties.
See More
Market Capitalization Comparison: Duke Energy vs CME Group
- Importance of Market Cap: Duke Energy Corp (DUK) has a market capitalization of $94.40 billion compared to CME Group (CME) at $90.78 billion, illustrating their relative value in the market and aiding investors in making informed decisions.
- Investor Misconceptions: Many novice investors mistakenly judge a company's worth solely by its stock price, but market capitalization provides a more accurate basis for comparison, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of investment decisions by avoiding price-related misunderstandings.
- Market Position Impact: Market capitalization not only affects a company's ranking among peers but also determines which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock, particularly as large funds typically focus on companies valued over $10 billion, influencing capital inflows and stock performance.
- Stock Performance: At Wednesday's close, DUK was up about 0.1% while CME rose approximately 0.9%, indicating differing market reactions to both companies, potentially linked to their respective market caps and positioning.
See More
U.S. Stocks Hit Record Highs, HPE and Marvell Surge
- Market Records: The S&P 500 index closed at an all-time high for the sixth consecutive day, surpassing 7,600 for the first time, indicating a robust market recovery and increased investor confidence, which may attract more capital inflows into equities.
- HPE Surge: Hewlett Packard Enterprise shares soared 19%, marking its best single-day performance ever, as CEO Antonio Neri stated the company has the “best portfolio we’ve ever had,” enhancing its competitive edge and driving future growth.
- Marvell's Major Gain: Marvell's stock jumped 32%, also achieving its largest one-day gain in history, after Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang suggested it could be the “next trillion-dollar company,” providing investors with strong growth expectations.
- CME and Cboe Under Pressure: Shares of CME Group and Cboe Global Markets are on track for their worst week since 2020 following the regulatory approval of bitcoin futures, reflecting market concerns and selling pressure on cryptocurrency-related stocks.
See More
