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CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, plans to launch Solana futures on March 17, pending regulatory approval The derivatives marketplace announced in a press release the upcoming contracts on Feb. 28, stating that they will provide investors with a regulated way to manage price risk in Solana’s ( SOL ) market, reflecting growing institutional demand for cryptocurrency derivatives. The new contracts will be cash-settled and based on the CME Solana-Dollar Reference Rate, which calculates the daily U.S. dollar value of Solana. Traders will have the option to choose between a micro contract (25 SOL) and a standard contract (500 SOL). Giovanni Vicioso, global head of cryptocurrency products at CME Group, stated in the press release that the launch of SOL futures is a response to the rising demand for regulated cryptocurrency trading options. He emphasized that as Solana grows in adoption, the new futures contracts will offer an efficient way for investors to manage risk and develop their strategies. This announcement confirms the timeline for SOL futures, following a leak from CME Group’s beta website in January. The introduction of Solana futures marks another step in the institutionalization of digital assets. CME Group already offers Bitcoin ( BTC ) and Ethereum ( ETH ) futures, and its crypto derivatives market is seeing increased activity. According to CME Group, average daily volume in its crypto futures market has risen 73% year over year, with 202,000 contracts traded daily. Open interest has also grown 55%, signaling increasing demand for regulated crypto investment products. Teddy Fusaro, president of Bitwise Asset Management, noted that CME Group’s introduction of SOL futures demonstrates its commitment to providing advanced trading and risk management tools for institutional investors and active traders. Kyle Samani, co-founder of Multicoin Capital, praised CME Group for advancing crypto derivatives. In the press release, he stated that SOL futures align with the growing demand for better trading tools. He noted that as digital assets mature, investors require more efficient mechanisms to gain exposure and manage volatility. These futures contracts, he added, address that need by offering flexibility with reduced upfront costs. The launch of Solana futures is still subject to regulatory approval and would be listed under CME Group’s existing trading framework, offering a structured, regulated alternative to direct Solana investments. CME Group’s expansion into Solana futures reflects growing confidence in digital asset markets. If demand follows the trajectory of Bitcoin and Ethereum futures, Solana’s presence in institutional finance could see further growth.

$SOL's recent price drop below $130 has sparked concerns about another bear market. Will it bounce back? 🧐 #Solana

CME Group to launch Solana futures on March 17 as ETF momentum builds

The crypto market trembles. Bitcoin is displaying a Fear & Greed index plunging to 10 — an unprecedented extreme fear level not seen since the winter of 2022. As traders hold their breath, one burning question arises: is this panic a deadly trap… or a disguised opportunity? The Fear & Greed index, created by Alternative, is not just a gadget. It’s a seismograph of market emotions. On a scale of 0 to 100, it oscillates between collective euphoria and total dejection. Today, the needle has frozen at 10. A number that sends chills down the spine: the last time the price of bitcoin experienced such terror, it was worth $16,000. But behind the numbers, an unyielding mechanism reveals itself. This collapse in morale follows a 14% drop in bitcoin over the course of a week, plunging it below $85,000. The reasons? An explosive cocktail: massive liquidations ($2.16 billion in capitulation), regulatory pressure, and the shadow of collapsing memecoins. Yet, a glimmer of hope hides in history. In 2022, when the index reached similar levels , bitcoin began a slow recovery. The extreme lows of fear have often been the prelude to spectacular rebounds. As if the market, suffocated by its own fears, eventually regains its breath. Warren Buffett summed it up in one sentence: Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. A maxim that contrarian investors follow to the letter. Today, with the Fear & Greed index at its lowest, these strategists are pulling out their checkbooks. Their reasoning? General panic creates undervalued opportunities. Proof by past cycles. In January 2023, when the index brushed 10, bitcoin surged 40% in two months. The same scenario in July 2022: a 25% rebound after a fear low. The data is stubborn: the best returns often arise from discomfort. But beware of false hopes. If bitcoin appears to be on hold at $84,700, nothing guarantees an immediate rebound. In 2018, the index remained in the red zone for 11 months. The key? Distinguishing rational fear (like macroeconomic risks) from irrational panic. A tightrope act, where patience and discipline reign. The current panic is not an end, but a rite of passage. Bitcoin, accustomed to these emotional cycles, has already overcome crises far worse. However, this drop delivers two crucial lessons. First, the importance of understanding emotional indicators — these mirrors of our own excesses. Then, the necessity to think outside the herd. Because in the crypto arena, profits are often captured where others do not look. For investors, it’s time to keep a cool head. Monitor the fundamentals (institutional adoption, halving, technical innovations) rather than the waves of panic. And remember: even the darkest nights eventually give way to dawn. Bitcoin has already proven that it knows how to rise from its ashes. Will Solana do the same despite a 41% drop ?

The crypto market is going through a turbulent zone. Indeed, Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has suffered a brutal drop of 20% in just three days, which brings its price around $2,100. Such a sudden correction raises questions: is it just a simple episode of volatility or a warning signal for investors? Between unfavorable macroeconomic factors and signs of resilience in the derivatives market, the future of ETH is hanging by a fragile balance. The market was caught off guard by the extent of the decline. Thus, ETH , which seemed resilient despite recent fluctuations in Bitcoin, collapsed in a context of global economic tensions. The protectionist policy announced by Donald Trump, notably the threat of new tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico, has created a climate of uncertainty across all financial markets, including crypto. At the same time, declining U.S. economic indicators amplified the selling pressure: unemployment claims surged to 242,000, a record in three months, while pending home sales fell by 4.6% in January, their largest historical drop. This situation triggered a wave of panic, exacerbated by cascading liquidations on leveraged trading platforms. Investors, seeing ETH lose its technical supports, cut their positions, which accelerated the drop . However, despite this brutal correction, signals suggest that the downward pressure could slow, or even pave the way for stabilization. While ETH was weathering this correction, indicators from the derivatives market show no widespread panic. The annual premium on futures contracts for Ether is currently at 7% above the spot market, compared to 6% a few days earlier. This slight rebound indicates a mitigation of selling pressure, especially below the $2,600 threshold. Moreover, the 60-day delta skew indicator, which measures the balance between call and put options, remains within a neutral range of -6% to 6%, a sign that institutional players are not giving in to panic. In this context, several scenarios remain possible. If the upward trend resumes and ETH manages to regain $2,500, the market could see a return toward $2,800 in the coming weeks. Conversely, a continuation of the macroeconomic decline could lead to a new wave of selling, which would hinder any attempt at recovery. Ethereum’s stability now hinges on the evolution of global economic conditions, but also on the ability of buyers to defend critical technical levels. Ultimately, a rebound toward $2,800 remains plausible, but the coming weeks will be decisive. If Ethereum manages to reassure investors and take advantage of the slowdown in Solana , it could regain its momentum. Conversely, a still uncertain macroeconomic context and weak adoption of its Layer 2 ecosystem could hinder its recovery and prolong volatility in the market.