CME Group has expanded its cryptocurrency market data coverage as demand for regulated digital asset pricing continues to rise.
The derivatives exchange confirmed it will introduce standardized pricing benchmarks for Hedera’s native token, HBAR.
The move reflects CME’s broader strategy to integrate select cryptocurrencies into compliant financial infrastructure. However, market trading showed a short-term pullback following the announcement.
The Hedera Foundation said CME Group will launch real-time and reference pricing indices for HBAR on December 29.
The pricing products will go live through the CME CF Cryptocurrency Pricing Market Data feed, distributed via CME Globex on Google Cloud.
According to press release, CME Group and CF Benchmarks stated that the indices will provide standardized pricing data but will not be used to settle any contracts.
CME and CF benchmarks outline HBAR pricing structure
According to information shared by Hedera Foundation, the HBAR pricing suite will include daily benchmark reference rates and a real-time index.
CME Group and CF Benchmarks plan to publish the benchmarks shortly after 4:00 p.m. local time in three major regions. These include London, New York, and Asia-Pacific, with publication continuing on weekends and bank holidays.
CME will release the London benchmark as the CME CF Hedera-Dollar Reference Rate, identified as HBARUSD_RR.
A New York benchmark, HBARUSD_NY, will follow at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
CME will also publish an Asia-Pacific version, HBARUSD_AP, at around 4:00 p.m. Hong Kong and Singapore time.
Alongside the benchmarks, CME will introduce the CME CF Hedera-Dollar Real-Time Index, known as HBARUSD_RTI.
CME said the real-time index will update approximately once per second. The exchange added that all HBAR pricing data will be distributed through the condensed CME CF Cryptocurrency Pricing Market Data feed on channel 213.
CME also confirmed that testing access will be provided through its New Release environment and will not require certification.
Technology roadmap and market reaction
The Hedera Foundation said the HBAR pricing launch aligns with a broader set of CME technology and connectivity updates.
These updates relate to the ongoing migration of CME Globex systems to Google Cloud.
CME Group and Google Cloud recently announced a new private Google Cloud Chicago region and co-location facility designed to support listed derivatives markets.
CME also outlined further infrastructure updates across asset classes.
These include certification host IP changes, new market data multicast groups planned for the first quarter of 2026, and a proposed market data channel 335 in the first half of 2026.
Additional connectivity and messaging changes are scheduled through April 2026.
Despite the long-term implications, HBAR declined following the announcement. At press time, HBAR price traded at $0.1140, down 4.30% over 24 hours.
HBAR joins Aptos and Bittensor in the latest expansion of CME CF cryptocurrency pricing data, scheduled to launch on December 29.