U.S. CME to Launch 24-Hour Cryptocurrency Futures and Options Trading in Early 2026

On October 1, the world's largest derivatives exchange, CME Group, announced that it will provide cryptocurrency futures and options trading around the clock, seven days a week. The launch is scheduled for early 2026, pending regulatory review, and will include a minimum of two hours of maintenance time each weekend. Trading over weekends and holidays from Friday night to Sunday night will be considered as part of the next business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting also processed the following business day. Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Equity, Foreign Exchange & Alternative Investment Products, stated that while not all markets are suited for 24/365 operations, the move to round-the-clock trading for cryptocurrencies is driven by the need for market participants to manage risks throughout the week.