Very exciting news from CME today, they plan to launch bitcoin futures contracts in Q4 2017! If it comes true, I think this would be one of the most dramatic events in the history of crypto currencies. Having a transparent US regulated futures market (can we also hope for options on futures eventually?) will have a cascading effect on the rest of the market. Think about the reasons why regulators have been denying ETF and other crypto product applications, because they say the secondary market is not developed enough, well, if the CME is hosting a liquid market, it becomes impossible to deny ETF applications. There is every reason to believe once the CME bitcoin markets are established, tracker ETFs will be approved and listed on recognized US exchanges as well.
When FX markets were launched on the CME in the 1970s, they supported the growth of a new global market for free floating fiat currencies. I hope something similar happens as the CME begins to host crypto markets, since it will become impossible for governments to deny their efficacy.
http://www.cmegroup.com/media-room/press-releases/2017/10/31/cme_group_announceslaunchofbitcoinfutures.html
