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CME Group will move its crypto futures & options to continuous, around-the-clock trading in early 2026.
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Executives at CME, ICE, Nasdaq, and DRW see nonstop markets expanding; tokenized collateral cited as a key enabler.
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CME’s crypto suite hit a quarterly record: ~340k daily contracts (~$14.1B notional).
Why Now
CME Group said it will shift its cryptocurrency futures and options to 24/7 trading in early 2026, letting clients hedge and rebalance risk every day of the week. “Client demand for around-the-clock cryptocurrency trading has grown,” said Tim McCourt, CME’s global head of equities, FX, and alternative products.
Industry Momentum
At a joint CFTC–SEC roundtable, CME CEO Terry Duffy said “24/7 is coming,” with crypto the best proving ground. ICE’s Jeff Sprecher argued markets should choose which assets fit nonstop trading. Nasdaq’s Adena Friedman said her team is prepping 24/5 equities but flagged operational hurdles.
Plumbing Still Matters
DRW’s Don Wilson noted nonstop markets require nonstop collateral movement—an area where tokenization could help. The infrastructure push dovetails with CME’s own growth: its crypto complex averaged ~340,000 contracts per day last quarter, a record. The exchange also plans to list options on Solana and XRP futures on Oct. 16.
