Nasdaq and CME Group have joined forces to relaunch the Nasdaq Crypto Index as the Nasdaq CME Crypto Index (NCI). This collaboration seeks to provide institutions with a transparent and regulated benchmark for digital asset exposure. The move comes amid increasing demand for stronger governance and transparency in the cryptocurrency investment space.

The Nasdaq CME Crypto Index is designed to be a foundational tool for the development of regulated financial products, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), structured products, and managed funds. CF Benchmarks calculates the index, utilizing vetted exchanges and custodians. A joint governance committee oversees the index to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The methodology used, including criteria for constituent inclusion, is publicly available.

Giovanni Vicioso, Executive Director of Equity and Alternative Products at CME Group, emphasized that this is more than just a name change, calling it "the combination of two gold standards" to deliver necessary regulated diversification. Sean Wasserman, CFA, Head of Index Product Management at Nasdaq, stated the timing of the announcement reflects a broader shift in how investors are approaching digital assets. Wasserman noted the market is evolving towards index-based strategies, moving beyond single-asset exposure.

The index is part of an ecosystem of Nasdaq digital asset indexes that have been licensed for products managed by Hashdex across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. These products support over $1 billion in assets, including the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF (NCIQ) in the U.S. Both Nasdaq and CME Group anticipate further adoption from investors and issuers as the demand for regulated crypto exposure continues to grow.

With nearly 30 years of partnership, Nasdaq and CME Group have a history of collaboration, including the launch of Nasdaq-100 Index futures in 1996 and E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures in 1999. Together, they helped build a successful equity index derivatives ecosystem that includes futures, options, and ETFs used by investors globally. CME Group launched the first CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate in 2016 and Bitcoin futures contracts in 2017, becoming a leading venue for institutional crypto participation. Vicioso stated that their crypto derivatives provide the broader ecosystem with a regulated and liquid market for price discovery.