The move brings its Bitcoin and Ethereum derivatives markets closer to the continuous trading hours that already define global spot cryptocurrency markets.
Continuous trading on the CME Globex platform will begin May 29 at 10:00 a.m. UTC. Contracts will trade without traditional overnight or weekend closures, subject to a minimum two-hour weekly maintenance window over the weekend. Holiday and weekend trades from Friday evening through Sunday evening will carry the trade date of the following business day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting processed the next business day.
Year-to-date in 2026, CME reported average daily crypto volume of 407,200 contracts, up 46% from the same period last year, with average daily open interest of 335,400 contracts, up 7% year-over-year. Futures volume alone averaged 403,900 contracts per day, a 47% increase compared to the prior year.
The 24/7 structure is designed to address a timing gap that has long existed between regulated derivatives markets, which close overnight and on weekends, and spot crypto exchanges, which operate continuously. Institutional traders managing crypto exposure have had limited tools to hedge positions during off-hours in regulated venues.
Exchanges more broadly are competing to meet growing institutional appetite for CryptoDerivatives. Firms like Coinbase and Kraken have spent billions acquiring derivatives service providers, while CME has also expanded into adjacent markets, including a partnership with FanDuel to launch a U.S. prediction markets platform.
The May 29 launch remains contingent on regulatory approval. If cleared, it will mark a structural change in how U.S.-regulated crypto derivatives operate, aligning BitcoinFutures and Ethereum futures market hours with the nonstop rhythm of global digital asset trading.
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CME Group To Launch 24/7 Bitcoin and Ethereum Futures on May 29 – CoinMarketCap
