CME Group partners with NHL to launch sports derivatives market

CME Group is preparing to list cash‑settled futures and options based on performance indexes that track National Hockey League (NHL) teams and players. The league will supply official real‑time statistics to FutureSports, which will create and administer the benchmark indexes. CME plans to list the contracts for the 2026‑27 season, subject to regulatory approval.

At the same time, Options Xchange Group Inc. announced its intention to launch a U.S.‑listed options exchange using a purpose‑built technology platform. Founder and CEO Peter Maragos, formerly of DASH Financial Technologies, leads a team that includes former executives from Nasdaq Options, NYSE Options, IEX and other exchanges. The firm expects to file further details with the SEC in 2026.