CME, world's top derivatives bourse, to soon start bitcoin futures trade

Launch expected in last quarter of 2017; regulatory approval awaited

The market for bitcoin is set for a paradigm shift, with the world's largest derivatives exchange, CME, to soon begins futures trading in this popular crypto-currency.

"The launch of futures, is expected in Q4 (the last quarter) of 2017; we are still awaiting regulatory approval," said a spokesperson of the CME group to an e-mailed query.

The price of bitcoin has risen from $952 at the beginning of this year to $8,200, up 8.6 times. Bitcoin's market capitalisation is $136 billion, by one estimate, 56 per cent of the total crypto-currency m-cap.

CME is a regulated exchange and the approval by the US