CME Group may be getting ready to take a much bigger step into crypto.

During its latest earnings call, CEO Terry Duffy revealed that the derivatives giant is exploring the idea of launching its own cryptocurrency. The proposed token could potentially run on a decentralized network and be used by industry participants for margin, settlement, or other market functions.

The comment came while Duffy was discussing tokenized collateral, suggesting #CME is actively thinking about how blockchain-based assets could fit into the core plumbing of financial markets. The firm is already working on a tokenized cash initiative with Google, and this new idea points to an even deeper move into on-chain infrastructure.

If CME moves forward, it would join other major financial institutions experimenting with proprietary tokens to streamline settlement and improve capital efficiency. It also comes as CME prepares to roll out 24/7 crypto futures trading and new contracts tied to assets like Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar.

It’s another sign that #tokenization is moving from theory to real market infrastructure.