CME to Offer 24/7 Crypto Futures & Options Trading in 2026
CME Group has filed for regulatory approval to offer 24/7 Crypto Futures & Options Trading on its CME Globex platform from early 2026, with only a two-hour weekend maintenance window. All weekend and holiday trades would clear and settle on the next business day, subject to approval. This round-the-clock crypto derivatives trading aims to boost market access, liquidity and continuous price discovery, aligning with DeFi standards and strong institutional demand. In 2025, CME’s crypto derivatives saw record metrics: notional open interest hit $39 billion in September, August’s average open interest rose 95% year-on-year to 335,200 contracts ($31.6 billion), and average daily volume jumped 230% to 411,000 contracts ($14.9 billion). Over 1,010 large traders were active by August. Industry leaders at an SEC-CFTC roundtable expect sustained demand for continuous trading. CME Group’s 24/7 Crypto Futures & Options Trading plan could redefine U.S.-regulated crypto derivatives hours.
Bullish
Extending CME Globex to 24/7 Crypto Futures & Options Trading is likely to enhance market liquidity, reduce price gaps over weekends, and attract more institutional capital. In the short term, traders can manage risk nonstop without interruption, which may support tighter spreads and lower volatility. Over the long term, a compliant, around-the-clock trading venue could deepen derivatives markets, foster continuous price discovery, and reinforce demand for crypto futures and options, all of which point to a bullish outlook for crypto asset prices.