CME Group FX futures and options reach record open interest

CME Group has announced a new record in foreign exchange (FX) futures and options open interest. On September 4, 2026, combined open interest reached 4,410,167 contracts, representing a 3.3% increase over the previous record of 4,269,622 contracts set on June 11, 2026.

Institutional participation has reached significant milestones, with asset managers' notional open interest in FX futures exceeding $200 billion for the first time. Additionally, the number of large open interest holders in FX futures reached an all-time high of 1,446, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s August 25 report.

Paul Houston, Global Head of FX Products at CME Group, stated that the record participation reflects growing buy-side demand for the transparency, central clearing, and capital efficiencies provided by futures. He noted that clients are increasingly utilizing these instruments to manage risk across a broader range of currency pairs, including emerging markets.