In 1848, the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) created the world's first futures exchange in Chicago, laying the foundation for modern futures trading.

In 1851, CBOT offered the earliest recorded forward contracts, marking the beginning of the popularity of forward contracts among merchants and processors.

In 1865, CBOT created the world's first futures clearing operation by introducing performance bonds (margin) for buyers and sellers in its grain markets.

In 1870, CBOT developed the first octagonal futures trading pit, revolutionizing the trading environment for futures contracts.

In 1877, trading in CBOT's grain complex, including corn, oats, and wheat futures, was officially launched, further solidifying its position in the futures market.

In 1885, CBOT constructed a new building at LaSalle and Jackson streets in Chicago, which was the city's tallest building at the time and the first commercial structure with electric lights, to accommodate the rapid growth of futures trading.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) was established in 1898 as a nonprofit corporation.

In 1919, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) established its clearing house.

In 1961, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) made history by launching the first futures contract on frozen, stored meats, specifically frozen pork bellies. This innovative contract opened up new opportunities for traders.

On November 30, 1964, Live Cattle Calendar Spread Options were introduced.

The historical first trading date for futures and options contracts on CME Group exchanges dates back to 1972.

In 1982, CME successfully launched the first stock index futures contract based on the S&P 500 Index, allowing investors to hedge against market fluctuations.

On October 30, 1984, Mini-Sized Corn was introduced.

CME revolutionized futures trading in 1987 by pioneering electronic trading with the conceptualization and development of the CME Globex platform, enabling faster and more efficient trading.

In 1992, the first electronic futures trades were executed on the CME Globex platform, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of futures trading towards electronic platforms.

Class III milk futures and options were established on January 11, 1996.

Cash-settled butter futures and options were introduced on September 5, 1996.

CME introduced the first mini-sized, electronic futures contract known as E-mini S&P 500 futures in 1997, extending trading hours beyond traditional floor trading and enhancing market accessibility.

On October 7, 1999, the E-mini™ Japanese Yen futures and options were introduced.

In 2000, CME membership voted to de-mutualize, leading to the exchange becoming publicly traded and providing greater transparency and access to investors.

The 2-Year Swap was introduced on April 8, 2002.

On April 7, 2003, Mini-Sized Wheat was introduced.

In 2004, CME Globex achieved a significant milestone by executing the one billionth contract traded since its launch in June 1992.

In 2005, the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) underwent demutualization and transitioned into a publicly traded company, being listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 2006, CBOT and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) signed an agreement to merge into a single company, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. This marked a significant step towards consolidation in the derivatives market.

On July 12, 2007, CME merged with its historical rival, the Chicago Board of Trade, in an $8 billion deal, forming the world's largest financial market.

CME Group, known as the world's leading derivatives marketplace, consists of four Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) and plays a significant role in the financial industry.

On August 22, 2008, CME Group acquired the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) along with the Commodity Exchange (COMEX) for $8.9 billion in cash and CME Group stock.

In 2009, CME Group successfully completed the integration of the New York trading floor, a crucial milestone following the acquisition of NYMEX in 2008. This integration streamlined operations by consolidating energy and metals trading onto a single floor.

On March 5, 2010, Mini-Sized Soybeans were introduced.

CME Group was central to the 2010 flash crash, where Navinder Singh Sarao, a British trader, used spoofing algorithms on CME's Globex platform, causing significant market disruption.

Cash-settled cheese futures and options were launched on June 21, 2011.

On July 15, 2011, Frozen Pork Bellies were delisted from the market. This event marked the end of trading for this commodity.

On December 3, 2012, CME Group bought the Kansas City Board of Trade, a major platform for trading hard red winter wheat, for $126 million in cash.

In July 2013, CME Group was honored with Derivatives Intelligence's 2013 Global Derivatives Award for Exchange of the Year.

In April 2014, CME Group was recognized as the 'North America Exchange of the Year' and 'Clearinghouse of the Year' by Global Capital.

In 2015, CME Group made the decision to close down most of its open outcry trading pits, marking the end of a traditional method of price discovery. This move reflected the shift towards electronic trading in modern financial markets.

In March 2016, CME Group announced the sale of its suburban Chicago data center in Aurora, IL to CyrusOne for $130 million in a leaseback transaction.

In April 2017, CME Group achieved a milestone with a record open interest of 123 million contracts.

In August 2018, CME Group offered holders of Class B shares $10 million to give up control of their six board seats, but the offer was rejected.

Swap Futures were introduced on October 1, 2018.

On November 2, 2018, CME Group acquired the London-based NEX Group for $5.5 billion.

CME Group achieved a perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index in 2019, showcasing its commitment to LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace.

CME Group maintained its perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index in 2020, demonstrating its continued dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion.

In May 2021, CME Group made the decision to permanently close the open-outcry trading pits in Chicago, except for the Eurodollar options pit which would remain operational.

In 2022, CME Group achieved a record average daily volume of 23.3 million contracts for its futures and options.

The CME Group Center for Innovation was established to create and sponsor thought-provoking original programming that promotes significant innovation and creative thinking across various industries.