CME Group to Launch 24/7 Crypto Futures Trading on May 29 as Institutional Demand Surges
The world’s largest derivatives marketplace, CME Group, has confirmed it will launch 24-hour, seven-day-a-week trading for its regulated cryptocurrency futures and options products beginning May 29, 2026, marking a historic shift in how traditional financial infrastructure serves the digital asset market.
The announcement, first made in February and now approaching its launch date, means Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) futures and options will trade continuously on the CME Globex platform, with only a two-hour weekly maintenance window over the weekend.
“Client demand for around-the-clock cryptocurrency trading has grown as market participants need to manage their risk every day of the week,” said Tim McCourt, CME Group’s Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products.
The move comes on the back of record-breaking volumes across CME’s crypto complex in 2025. Notional open interest peaked at $39 billion on September 18, while average daily open interest in August rose 95% year-on-year to 335,200 contracts ($31.6 billion notional). Average daily volumes surged 230% to 411,000 contracts ($14.9 billion notional), and the number of large open interest holders exceeded 1,010 by late September.
For the full year 2025, CME’s cryptocurrency products recorded over $3 trillion in total notional volume traded.
Industry Impact
The move addresses a long-standing pain point for institutional traders: the “gap risk” created when crypto markets trade 24/7 on spot exchanges but CME futures close over weekends. With continuous trading, institutions can now hedge positions seamlessly around the clock.
CME Group said the expansion will further strengthen its position as the trusted venue for institutional crypto risk management. The 24/7 schedule applies to both futures and options on Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Trades executed between Friday evening and Sunday evening will be assigned the following business day as the trade date, with clearing, settlement and reporting processed accordingly the next business day.
Source: CME Group official press release, PRNewswire, LeapRate
Risk Warning: Cryptocurrency and derivatives trading carries significant risk. Please ensure you fully understand the risks before trading.