CME Group, the leading derivatives marketplace, has announced that its cryptocurrency futures and options products will soon be available for trading 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. This move comes in response to the increasing demand from clients for continuous risk management in a market that operates non-stop.
Tim McCourt, the global head of equities, FX, and alternative products at CME Group, highlighted the importance of aligning regulated markets with the fast-paced nature of the digital asset sector. He emphasized the need to meet the growing client demand for round-the-clock cryptocurrency trading to enable them to manage their risk effectively every day of the week.
CME’s cryptocurrency futures and options will be traded continuously on the CME Globex platform, with only a two-hour weekly maintenance pause scheduled over the weekend. To ensure operational consistency, any trading conducted during weekends or holidays will be processed on the following business day for clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting.
The decision to expand trading hours follows a year of exceptional growth in CME’s cryptocurrency derivatives complex, with record activity in 2025. Notional open interest reached a peak of $39 billion in September, with significant increases in average daily open interest and trading volume compared to the previous year. The number of large open interest holders across CME’s cryptocurrency products also saw a substantial increase, indicating heightened institutional engagement.
CME Group already offers a wide range of benchmark products across various asset classes, including interest rates, equities, foreign exchange, energy, agriculture, metals, and digital assets. With its ecosystem spanning different trading platforms and supported by CME Clearing, one of the world’s largest central counterparty clearing providers, CME is positioned to bridge traditional finance with the 24/7 nature of the crypto economy.
By launching 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options, CME Group is not only meeting the evolving needs of its clients but also reflecting the growing maturity of digital assets in the financial markets. This decision underscores CME’s commitment to innovation and adaptability in response to the changing landscape of the cryptocurrency market.
Overall, the expansion of trading hours for CME’s cryptocurrency products is a significant step towards providing market participants with greater flexibility and accessibility in managing their cryptocurrency investments. The seamless integration of these products into a continuous trading cycle is expected to bring new opportunities for traders and investors in the evolving digital asset space.