ETH futures will launch on a CFTC regulated exchange this year, most 2020 Outlook survey takers believe

Many respondents to The Block's 2020 Outlook survey believe that a CFTC-regulated futures exchange will launch futures tied to ether (ETH) this year.

Out of the 106 respondents who participated in the survey – which focused on questions like the possible likelihood of a bitcoin ETF approval in the U.S. this year – 72 said that they think an ETH future will go live on a regulated exchange in 2020. That number accounts for 67.9% of participants.

34 respondents – or 32.1 percent of those who took part in the survey – said they don't believe it will happen.

Late last month, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chairman Heath Tarbert remarked in a Bloomberg interview that the crypto market may see the launch of ether (ETH)-based futures contracts.

“We have seen bitcoin futures, both cash-settled as well as physically-delivered. My guess is we are going to see ether futures as well,” Tarbert was quoted as saying.

The chairman remarked upon ether futures last October. He said at the time that he “absolutely” believes the futures tied to the ethereum-based token could start trading in the next six to 12 months.