CME Group to Launch Around-the-Clock Cryptocurrency Trading

CME Group will extend cryptocurrency futures and options trading to 24 hours a day, seven days a week beginning May 29, pending regulatory review, responding to surging demand for digital asset risk management products.

Beginning May 29 at 4:00 p.m. CT, CME Globex will offer continuous trading with at least a two-hour weekly maintenance window on weekends. All holiday and weekend trading will carry a trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement and regulatory reporting processed accordingly, the announcement said.

The 24/7 schedule positions CME's cryptocurrency offerings against decentralized exchanges that operate continuously but lack regulatory oversight. The move acknowledges institutional demand for around-the-clock access to regulated crypto derivatives as digital assets become integrated into mainstream portfolio management and risk mitigation strategies.

The move reflects record adoption of CME's regulated cryptocurrency contracts. The exchange said it processed $3 trillion in notional volume across cryptocurrency futures and options in 2025, and year-to-date volumes in 2026 continue accelerating. Average daily volume has climbed 46% year-over-year to 407,200 contracts, while average daily open interest stands at 335,400 contracts, up 7% year-over-year. Cryptocurrency futures at CME saw average daily volume of 403,900 contracts year-to-date, up 47% year-over-year.

"Client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all-time high," Tim McCourt, global head of equities, FX and alternative products at CME Group, said in a statement on Thursday. "Providing always-on access to our regulated, transparent Cryptocurrency products ensures clients can manage their exposure and trade with confidence at any time."

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