CME’s Launching Bitcoin ‘Friday Futures’ in Bid to Lure Retail

CME Group Inc. is launching a smaller Bitcoin futures contract in a bid to appeal to retail investors who may be priced out of the exchange’s existing crypto offerings.

The weekly futures contracts, dubbed Bitcoin Friday futures, will be priced at one-50th the size of one Bitcoin, meaning that investors won’t need to shelve out as much as they do when buying current offerings. The cash-settled product will be available starting Sept. 30, pending regulatory review, according to the Chicago-based company. Bitcoin was recently trading at around $62,500.

“When you look at, say, a retail individual, active trader, they’re looking ...