CME Group’s Cryptocurrency DerivatMarket released a steep increase in trading activity in April and reached a new average daily volume (ADV) of 183,000 contracts worth $ 8.9 billion in nominal terms, the company reported.

It marks a 129% jump compared to the same month last year, suggesting growing institutional interest in crypto markets.

Ether led the growth. CME’s Ether Futures ADV rose 239% to 14,000 contracts, while micro ether futures rose 165% to 63,000. Micro Bitcoin futures came with an increase of 115% to 78,000 contracts.

CME’s Bitcoin and Ether future contracts have a greater nominal value of 5 BTC and 50 ETH respectively. Micro -contracts meanwhile enable a more precise trade that represents only 0.1 of each cryptocurrency.

The exchange operator had already reported on record cryptocurrency derivatives quantities in the first quarter of the year. In April, its total ADV reached a record 35.9 million contracts and rose 36% year-over years.

Ether, after significant underprestriction of the wider cryptocurrency market, only 1.1% increased over the past 30 days, while the price of Bitcoin increased 15.8%. The wider crypto market, measured through Coindesk 20 (CD20) index, then a 12.1% increase.