CME to make crypto futures ‘always on’ with 24/7 trading in 2026
Quick Take
- CME and other exchange leaders say nonstop trading could spread, but crypto is the natural first step.
- The exchange’s crypto suite set a quarterly record with 340,000 daily contracts traded.
CME Group said Thursday it will move its cryptocurrency futures and options to continuous trading in early 2026, letting clients manage crypto exposure around the clock as demand for regulated digital asset derivatives accelerates.
"While not all markets lend themselves to operating 24/7, client demand for around-the-clock cryptocurrency trading has grown as market participants need to manage their risk every day of the week," said Tim McCourt, CME’s global head of equities, FX, and alternative products.
The move follows comments from CME Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy at a joint CFTC–SEC roundtable on Monday, where he said "24 seven is coming" across finance.
"I do believe that is the world that we’re going to live in and the market is going to demand it," Duffy told regulators, adding that crypto is the "best way to get there."
Other exchange leaders at the roundtable expressed similar views.
Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeff Sprecher argued that markets should decide which products make sense for nonstop trading, while Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman said her firm is preparing for 24/5 equities but acknowledged operational hurdles.
DRW's Don Wilson added that "to have 24/7 markets you need 24/7 collateral movement," pointing to tokenization as a solution.
CME's crypto products have surged this year, with average daily volume climbing to a record 340,000 contracts in the third quarter, or about $14.1 billion in notional value. The exchange plans to launch options on Solana and XRP futures on Oct. 16.
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