Citigroup Gearing Up to Trade CME Bitcoin Futures

U.S. banking giant Citigroup (NYSE: C) is awaiting regulatory approval to begin trading bitcoin (BTC, -3.36%) futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), according to a source within the bank who asked to remain nameless.

The bank is said to be fielding a surge in client demand for cryptocurrency exposure as bitcoin again mounts a climb toward $50,000. Citi, which is still working through the necessary regulatory approvals, would join fellow megabank Goldman Sachs in offering bitcoin futures trading.

A second person familiar with cryptocurrency derivatives markets said Citi is actively recruiting people to join a crypto-focused team in London, adding: “The team is likely to win approval to begin trading CME bitcoin futures first and then bitcoin exchange-traded notes (ETNs).” “Given the many questions around regulatory frameworks, supervisory expectations and other factors, we are being very thoughtful about our approach,” a Citigroup spokesperson told CoinDesk via email. “We are presently considering products such as futures for some of our institutional clients, as these operate under strong regulatory frameworks.”

Citigroup Gearing Up to Trade CME Bitcoin Futures: Sources, CoinDesk, Aug 25