Nasdaq and CME Group have announced the reorganization and renaming of the original "Nasdaq Crypto Index" (NCI) to the "Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index."

Nasdaq Partners with CME to Officially Merge Crypto Indices

Nasdaq and CME Group have officially integrated their cryptocurrency index frameworks, rebranding the existing NCI as the "Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index." According to a Nasdaq spokesperson, the index currently includes the following crypto assets:

• Bitcoin (BTC)

• Ethereum (ETH)

• Ripple (XRP)

• Solana (SOL)

• Chainlink (LINK)

• Cardano (ADA)

• Avalanche (AVAX)

Sean Wasserman, Head of Index Product Management at Nasdaq, noted in an official statement that investors are shifting from a "Bitcoin-only" mindset to using indices to represent the entire cryptocurrency market. This mirrors how indices serve as market barometers for traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds.

Launched in 2021, Product Scale Surpasses $1 Billion

The NCI was originally launched in 2021 and subsequently licensed to crypto asset management firm Hashdex for products issued in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Total assets under management now exceed $1 billion, which includes the first diversified crypto asset index ETF in the U.S., the "Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF" (Ticker: NCIQ).

Both parties stated that as investor demand for regulated crypto investment products continues to rise, the range of financial products based on the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index is expected to expand further.

Wasserman added that the goal of this index is not merely to track market performance, but to serve as the foundation for various financial instruments such as ETFs, structured products, and active funds. In the future, investors will be able to use this index for risk management, capital allocation, and diversification, much like they do with equity portfolios.

Joint Governance by Two Institutions Brings Crypto Framework Design to Mainstream Finance

For institutional investors, governance mechanisms are a critical factor in evaluating crypto investments. The new Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index is overseen by a governance committee jointly established by Nasdaq and CME Group. This committee supervises index operations, ensuring only vetted exchanges and custodians are included, and adjusts protocols based on market and regulatory changes. The index calculation is handled by CF Benchmarks, a long-standing partner and provider of cryptocurrency benchmark indices for both companies.

Wasserman stated that as the crypto market is still in a growth phase, joint governance by two international institutions with extensive market experience and conservative risk management is necessary to build trust. Nasdaq has also published the index methodology—including constituent eligibility, liquidity thresholds, weighting, and quarterly rebalancing mechanisms—emphasizing transparency as the core of the system.

Giovanni Vicioso, Executive Director of Equity and Alternative Products at CME Group, noted that this design aims to demonstrate to investors that the institutional standards of crypto assets are gradually approaching those of traditional financial markets.

(Note: CF Benchmarks is a UK-based company specializing in providing cryptocurrency price indices and benchmark indices.)

Disclaimer: None of the information contained here constitutes an offer (or solicitation of an offer) to buy or sell any currency, product or financial instrument, to make any investment, or to participate in any particular trading strategy.