The number of ways to gain exposure to cryptocurrency is growing, as are the number of futures contracts for digital currencies available to trade on the thinkorswim® platform across Desktop, Web, and Mobile.
Two additional cryptocurrencies, solana and ripple, have joined bitcoin (/BTC) and ether (/ETH) as assets with futures contracts available to trade in an approved futures account. Solana futures are trading under symbol /SOL, while ripple futures trade as /XRP. Micro futures for the assets are also available: /MSL for solana and /MXP for ripple. Given the relative newness and volatility of digital currencies, some traders have turned to the smaller entry point of micro futures to get more modest exposure.
Solana: Uses proof-of-history for processing
Launched in 2017, the Solana blockchain platform uses a proof-of-history mechanism to process transactions in combination with the more common proof-of-stake component. The platform claims this improves efficiency.
According to a Security.org 2025 survey, solana was the fourth-most popular currency as of July 2025—with a market cap of $80.8 billion—and 17% of survey respondents are planning to buy more solana.
/SOL futures debuted on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) in mid-March 2025 with both micro-size (equal to 25 SOL) and standard-size (500 SOL) contracts.
Ripple: A series of unique nodes
Fintech company Ripple launched its XRP Ledger blockchain platform in 2012, intending to create a lower-energy alternative to bitcoin that validates transactions through a network of trusted servers on a unique node list. Ripple claims to differentiate itself through its primary use case—bridging the transfer of currencies and commodities between businesses and financial institutions. According to the company's website, more than 100 financial institutions around the globe are currently registered with the Ripple network as of mid-2025.
The Security.org survey ranks ripple as the ninth-most popular crypto, with 12% of participants saying they are ripple-curious for 2025. With a market cap of $133.4 billion as of July 2025, however, it's the fourth largest, behind bitcoin, ether, and tether.
/XRP futures launched on the CME in mid-May and have so far demonstrated global appeal. Per the CME, nearly half of all trading volume has originated from outside the United States. These are available as micro and standard size, worth 2,500 and 50,000 XRP, respectively.
Contract specifications for available crypto futures
| Futures | Symbol | Multiplier | Minimum tick size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | /BTC | $5 | 5.00 = $25 |
| Micro bitcoin | /MBT | $0.10 | 5.00 = $0.50 |
| Ether | /ETH | $50 | 0.50 = $25 |
| Micro ether | /MET | $0.10 | 0.50 = $0.05 |
| Solana | /SOL | $500 | 0.05 = $25 |
| Micro solana | /MSL | $25 | 0.05 = $1.25 |
| Ripple | /XRP | $50,000 | 0.0005 = $25 |
| Micro ripple | /MXP | $2,500 | 0.0005 = $1.25 |
Note: All cryptocurrency futures are settled in cash and trade from 6 p.m. (ET) Sunday through 5 p.m. (ET) Friday. There is a one-hour halt between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET.
Focus on the futures
Like traditional futures, solana and ripple micro contracts are highly leveraged. That means traders can deposit a relatively small amount of capital to establish a position in a product with a comparatively larger nominal value. But with high leverage comes high risk; a small movement in the wrong direction—not uncommon in the crypto market—can lead to a significant loss. By definition, of course, micro futures require lower margin requirements than their full-size counterparts.
Clients not yet approved for futures trading can still monitor real-time futures activity and data via paperMoney® within the thinkorswim platform. Watching the market can be a risk-free way to become familiar with the unique timing and trading parameters of futures before actual money is on the line.
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