• CME Group will begin continuous 24/7 trading of cryptocurrency futures and options on May 29, 2026, pending regulatory approval, expanding from traditional market hours.
  • The move comes amid record demand, with 2025 notional volume hitting $3 trillion and 2026 year-to-date average daily volume up 46% to 407,200 contracts.
  • Trading will run on CME Globex with a brief weekly maintenance window, enabling institutional clients to manage digital asset exposure around the clock.

CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, is set to launch 24/7 trading for its regulated cryptocurrency futures and options starting May 29, 2026, according to people familiar with the matter. This shift to continuous operation on the CME Globex platform marks a significant departure from conventional market hours, allowing traders to hedge and speculate on digital assets at any time, with all weekend and holiday trades dated for the next business day.

Client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all-time high, said Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group, in a statement. Providing always-on access to our regulated, transparent cryptocurrency products ensures clients can manage their exposure and trade with confidence at any time. The company reported record growth, with 2025 notional volume reaching $3 trillion across its crypto offerings, and 2026 year-to-date average daily volume surging 46% to 407,200 contracts, including a 47% rise in futures ADV.

Trading will commence at 4:00 p.m. CT on May 29, featuring at least a two-hour weekly maintenance period over the weekend. CME Group's product suite includes Bitcoin and Ether futures, along with options and contracts for Solana, XRP, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar, catering to a broad institutional audience. Efforts to streamline operations have focused on aligning with global crypto market trends, as competition intensifies between centralized exchanges and decentralized platforms.

Without this expansion, CME risked falling behind in the fast-paced digital asset arena, where round-the-clock trading has become the norm. The move underscores the growing institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies and heightens the competitive landscape, with traditional derivatives platforms now operating on parity with crypto-native venues in terms of availability. Attempts to reach additional industry analysts for comment were unsuccessful at press time.

Correction: An earlier version misstated the year-to-date growth percentage; it has been updated to reflect the correct 46% increase in average daily volume.