The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is preparing to seek public comments on futures contracts linked to computing capacity, as CME Group targets an October 5 launch for its planned AI compute futures. The proposed contracts would allow market participants to trade and hedge the cost of computing power, turning a key resource for artificial intelligence into a tradable financial product. The CFTC’s review could affect the timeline, however, as the CME products still require regulatory approval.
The CFTC has reportedly sent a request for comment to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. Once that process is completed, the regulator is expected to open a public consultation, which could last 30 or 60 days.
The proposed futures contracts are part of a growing effort to create financial markets around the infrastructure powering artificial intelligence. Computing capacity has become increasingly valuable as companies build larger AI systems and spend heavily on data centres, specialised chips and other infrastructure.
CME Group announced last week that it plans to launch two compute futures contracts on October 5, subject to regulatory approval. The contracts would effectively allow businesses and investors to take positions on the cost of AI computing capacity.
Market intelligence company Silicon Data is expected to provide the benchmarks used to price the contracts. Having a benchmark is important because futures markets need a reliable reference price against which contracts can be settled.
The idea behind compute futures is similar to other commodity markets. Companies that need large amounts of computing power could potentially use futures to protect themselves against rising costs. Other market participants could take positions based on their expectations of how demand and prices will develop.
The market could become increasingly relevant as artificial intelligence drives a huge expansion in data centre construction. Technology companies are spending heavily to secure the computing resources needed to train and run AI models.
Recent estimates from TD Lombard, Goldman Sachs and Bridgewater Associates suggest that spending on AI infrastructure could amount to around 2% to 2.5% of US gross domestic product this year. That scale of investment shows why computing capacity is increasingly being viewed as an economic resource rather than simply a technology input.
Intercontinental Exchange is also exploring products linked to computing capacity. The emergence of multiple exchanges in this area suggests that financial markets see potential demand for instruments that can help companies manage AI-related costs.
But the CFTC’s public consultation indicates that regulators still have questions to consider. Compute futures are a relatively new type of contract, and authorities will need to assess how the market should be structured and supervised.
The consultation could also push back CME’s October target if regulatory review takes longer than expected. The company has said its launch depends on receiving the necessary approval.
For the broader technology and financial markets, the development is worth watching. AI has already created enormous demand for electricity, data centres and advanced processors. Creating futures markets around computing power could be the next step in turning that demand into a financial market.
If approved, compute futures would give businesses another tool to manage one of their fastest-growing costs. They could also give investors a new way to gain exposure to the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure economy without directly owning data centres or computing hardware.
LATEST: ⚡ The CFTC is seeking public comment on AI compute futures as CME Group plans to launch two contracts on Oct. 5, though a 30–60 day review could delay the rollout. pic.twitter.com/RPINTgFngt
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