Catenaa, Thursday, October 02, 2025- CME Group will shift its cryptocurrency futures and options to continuous trading in early 2026, making digital asset derivatives available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The move responds to mounting client demand for round-the-clock access as regulated crypto markets expand globally.
Tim McCourt, CME’s global head of equities, FX, and alternative products, said customers increasingly need nonstop trading to manage risk across weekends.
The decision marks a milestone for CME’s crypto suite, which hit a record in the third quarter with 340,000 contracts traded daily, representing about $14.1 billion in notional value.
The announcement follows CME Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy’s remarks at a joint CFTC–SEC roundtable earlier this week.
Duffy told regulators that nonstop trading will become standard across financial markets, calling crypto the best starting point. Other exchange leaders echoed similar expectations.
Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeff Sprecher said markets should determine which products suit nonstop operations, while Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman said her firm is preparing for 24/5 equities but acknowledged operational limits.
DRW’s Don Wilson noted that achieving continuous markets will require constant collateral movement, highlighting tokenization as a key enabler.
CME also announced plans to expand its crypto lineup with new options on Solana and XRP futures, scheduled to launch October 16.
Analysts said the shift could accelerate broader adoption of regulated crypto derivatives while setting a precedent for other asset classes.
