CME Group to Offer 24/7 Bitcoin and Ether Futures Trading

CME Group says it will move its regulated crypto futures and options to 24 hours a day, seven days a week trading on May 29, pending regulatory review.

Key Takeaways

• CME Group plans to offer 24 hours a day, seven days a week trading for regulated crypto futures and options starting May 29, subject to regulatory review.
• The products will trade on CME Globex with at least a two hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend.
• CME cited $3 trillion in 2025 notional volume and a 46% year over year jump in average daily contracts to 407,200 in early 2026.
• The change aims to better match the nonstop pace of spot crypto markets and give institutions more flexible risk management.

What Happened?

CME Group announced that its cryptocurrency futures and options will soon be available for continuous trading, expanding access beyond traditional market hours. The rollout is scheduled to begin on May 29, as long as regulators sign off.

The exchange framed the move as a response to rising demand for regulated tools that let investors manage crypto exposure at any time.

A Shift Toward Always On Crypto Risk Management

CME Group, widely known as the world’s largest derivatives exchange, is preparing to extend trading hours for its regulated cryptocurrency futures and options so clients can trade around the clock. The contracts will trade continuously on CME Globex, with at least a two hour maintenance period each week over the weekend.

CME executive Tim McCourt tied the decision directly to market demand and the exchange’s growth in crypto derivatives activity.

Tim McCourt said:

“

Client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all time high, driving a record $3 trillion in notional volume across our Cryptocurrency futures and options in 2025. While not all markets lend themselves to operating 24/7, providing always on access to our regulated, transparent Cryptocurrency products ensures clients can manage their exposure and trade with confidence at any time.

Tim McCourt Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group

How Weekend and Holiday Trading Will Work?

CME also outlined how trade processing will be handled during weekends and holidays. Beginning Friday, May 29 at 4:00 p.m. CT, trading will be available continuously, but transactions executed from Friday evening through Sunday evening will carry a trade date of the following business day.

CME said clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting for that weekend activity will also be processed the following business day. This approach keeps the trading experience always available while maintaining standard post trade workflows.

Bitcoin and Ether Lead, While the Product Line Expands

The expanded schedule will support trading in Bitcoin and Ether futures and options, and CME has also highlighted other crypto coverage within its derivatives lineup. The exchange currently offers futures and options tied to Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana, and it has continued adding new contracts as demand broadens.

CME has steadily expanded its crypto derivatives catalog since launching Bitcoin futures in 2017 and Ether futures several years later. More recently, it added contracts tied to Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar, which could also benefit from the always on schedule once implemented.

Market Context: Institutional Demand Stays Firm

The push for regulated crypto trading venues comes as activity patterns in crypto continue to differ from traditional markets. Spot crypto trading often peaks outside standard United States business hours, and CME’s move is designed to meet that reality with regulated instruments built for hedging and exposure management.

CoinLaw’s Takeaway

I see this as a big step toward making crypto feel like a true global asset class inside traditional finance. In my experience, the biggest pain point for institutions is not just volatility, it is the time mismatch between crypto markets and legacy trading hours. If CME delivers 24/7 access with the same regulated structure clients expect, it could make hedging far more practical and reduce the awkward timing issues traders deal with on weekends. I also think the psychological impact matters. When a venue like CME adapts to crypto’s schedule, it sends a message that the market is maturing, even if the policy landscape is still moving.

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