A prominent exchange between institutions, CME Group announced plans on Thursday to offer 24-hour trading in cryptocurrency futures and options markets.
The service could begin in early 2026 until regulatory approval is pending, the company said.
“The demand for clients for 24-hour cryptocurrency trading is increasing as market participants need to manage risk each week,” said Tim McCourt, CME’s Global Head of Equity, Forex and Alternative Products, in a statement. “By making sure our regulated cryptocurrency market is always on, our clients can trade with confidence at any time.”
Currently, trading on CME’s Crypto products is suspended over weekends and outside business hours. The new model allows traders to access products such as Bitcoin BTC$119,191.35 and ether ETH$4,383.87 Futures and options via CME Globex at any time except for a short weekly maintenance window. Holiday and weekend transactions will still be resolved the next business day, maintaining consistency in reporting and liquidation operations.
This move could appeal to institutions who want regulated exchange stability without traditional trading time constraints. If approved, CME’s 24-hour access could give it an edge over offshore platforms that already offer 24/7 transactions but operate less regulatory oversight.
CME Group trading venues are key markets for US institutional investors to trade crypto derivatives. Coinglas data shows that it is a major exchange for world-leading BTC and ETH futures, with contract values of $16.8 billion and $9.8 billion respectively.
