# CME certifies standard and micro Bitcoin and Ether futures offsets

> CME certified amendments adding Bitcoin, Micro Bitcoin, Ether, and Micro Ether futures to Rule 855's table for offsetting positions in different-sized contracts.

- URL: https://riadefi.com/regulation/2026-08-19-cme-bitcoin-ether-standard-micro-futures-offsets/
- Posture: Final rule
- Authorities: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Event date: 2026-08-19
- Effective: 2026-09-13
- Version: 1, published 2026-08-26 (first published 2026-08-26)
- Advisor-relevant: yes

## What changed

CME certified amendments adding Bitcoin, Micro Bitcoin, Ether, and Micro Ether futures to Rule 855's table for offsetting positions in different-sized contracts. The table uses a 50-to-1 relationship for Micro Bitcoin and Bitcoin futures and a 500-to-1 relationship for Micro Ether and Ether futures, with reciprocal ratios of 0.02 and 0.002. CME scheduled effectiveness for September 13, 2026, for trade date September 14, and set position-transfer fees of $0.60 per contract side for Bitcoin offsets and $0.10 per contract side for Ether offsets, subject to the CFTC's certification-review authority.

## Who it affects

- FCMs carrying opposite standard and micro Bitcoin or Ether futures positions
- CTAs, CPOs, advisers, and clients using CME Bitcoin or Ether futures

## What is still open

- Whether the CFTC will notify CME of review or otherwise stay the certified amendment before its scheduled effective date
- How individual FCMs will operationalize and make the offset process available to customers

## What it means for an advisor

- Confirm each executing and carrying broker's implementation date, eligibility process, and customer treatment for Rule 855 offsets
- Update margin, fee, position-transfer, and reconciliation procedures for portfolios using both standard and micro crypto futures
- Do not assume an offset is available until the carrying FCM confirms operational support

## Sources

1. [Designated Contract Market Rules Filing 63008](https://www.cftc.gov/IndustryOversight/IndustryFilings/TradingOrganizationRules/63008) · Commodity Futures Trading Commission · 2026-08-19
2. [CME Submission No. 26-325 — Amendments to CME Rule 855](https://www.cftc.gov/filings/orgrules/rules08192618509.pdf) · Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. · 2026-08-19 · effective 2026-09-13


---

Published by Ketju Research on RIADeFi (https://riadefi.com). Educational research for financial professionals; not investment, legal, tax, or compliance advice.