CFTC Considers AI Compute Futures as ICE, CME Eye New Market

Markets Contact us:Provide news feedback or report an error Confidential tip?Send a tip to our reporters Site feedback:Take our Survey By Lydia Beyoud August 19, 2026 at 7:57 PM UTC The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is asking for public input on futures contracts for the computing power that undergirds the artificial intelligence sector as industry heavyweights move to embrace so-called compute as a tradable asset. Several exchanges, including CME Group Inc. , Intercontinental Exchange Inc. and upstart Architect Financial Technologies Inc., have announced plans to start trading the contracts, pending regulatory approval. The trading venues have said that a futures market for computing power could help both end users and speculators hedge their risks related to energy shortages or other issues that could impact AI developers’ ability to advance their technologies.