The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), more commonly referred to as the Merc, is one of the world's most prominent financial exchanges. Founded in 1898, CME began as the Chicago Butter and Egg Board, originally serving as a trading board for agricultural commodities. Over time, CME has expanded to become the largest, most diverse derivatives marketplace in the world.

Today, CME is most notably known as the largest provider of futures and options contract trading globally. Futures contracts are an agreement to buy or sell an asset on a future date, while options are contracts that give the owner the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the asset at a predetermined price. CME operates a number of major exchanges in locations worldwide, including the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

In 2007, CME merged with the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and formed what is now known as the “CME Group”. This merger created one of the world’s leading diversified derivatives exchanges, encompassing index and commodity products and other global asset classes, such as currencies, energy, and equities. Products and services offered by CME Group cover the full spectrum of asset classes and markets, ranging from traditional futures, options, and options on futures, to over the counter options and clearing services.

In recent years, CME has become increasingly popular for trading more obscure and unorthodox commodities such as Bitcoin futures. Bitcoin is a digital currency that has soared in value and become a popular asset for futures trading. CME Group also offers unique options for trading weather derivatives, which can be used to hedge against the risks of extreme weather conditions.

CME Group is a leader in innovation, offering exchange traded products and services to facilitate sophisticated investment strategies and trade products globally. CME Group executives seek to continually improve their trading platforms, actively conducting research to develop new derivatives and technological solutions. They also strive to make the markets more accessible and transparent through a range of educational tools and initiatives.

Overall, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange has come a long way since its initial inception as the Chicago Butter and Egg Board. It is now a global leader in providing financial services, offering a range of activities, including futures and options trading, clearing services, and the introduction of unique products, such as Bitcoin futures and weather derivatives.