High-profile derivatives marketplace Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME Group) reportedly has plans down its pipeline to introduce options trading for its Ether (ETH) futures products.

Specifically, the CME Group reportedly revealed that currently pending regulatory review, it has intentions of introducing options contracts for its Ether futures, sized at 50 ETH for each contract. 

The futures options, with the expected timeline for commencing trading to be Sept. 12th, will reportedly be in line with the company releasing micro-sized Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether options in March this year, BTC options trading products in January 2020, and a BTC futures contract in December 2017.

CME Group’s global head of equity and FX products Tim McCourt reportedly mentioned the Ethereum blockchain’s anticipated transition to proof-of-stake – alternatively referred to as “the Merge” – during the announcement note of the ETH futures product. 

McCourt further revealed that the group the increase in trading volume has caught their eyes and sparked interest for ETH futures and micro-sized ETH futures options, potentially in anticipation of the Merge.

“We have […] seen heightened activity in our September and December Micro Ether options, which could also suggest that participants are hedging risk around the proposed date of the merge. Seventy-eight percent of Micro Ether options open interest is in the September and December contracts.” McCourt additionally remarked. 

The CME Group reportedly disclosed details of a 7% surge in the average day-to-day trading volume of ETH futures from June to July, as well as a 41% jump in the similar volume of contracts of micro ETH futures. 

Trading activity for ETH and investment instruments associated with the cryptocurrency could witness noteworthy volume prior to the Merge, which core developers expect to happen on Sept. 15.