Key Highlights
- CME Group cited sustained growth in volumes across its digital asset products for the 24/7 trading move.
- The move will allow continuous trading on CME Globex beginning May 29, subject to regulatory review.
CME Group, a Chicago-based derivatives exchange, plans to move its regulated cryptocurrency futures and options to nearly round-the-clock trading, citing increased growth in volumes across its digital asset products.
According to the official announcement, the change will allow continuous trading on CME Globex beginning May 29, subject to regulatory review. The exchange said the change reflects increased demand for risk management tools tied to crypto markets.
Shift to 24/7 access
Under the new structure, cryptocurrency futures and options will begin trading continuously at 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 29. The products will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with at least a two-hour maintenance window over the weekend.
Trades executed from Friday evening through Sunday evening will carry a trade date of the next business day. Clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting for those transactions will also be processed on the following business day.
While CME does not run all of its markets on a 24/7 schedule, it said the structure better aligns crypto derivatives with the underlying digital asset markets, which operate continuously.
Volumes hit new highs
According to CME, notional trading volume in its cryptocurrency futures and options has reached $3 trillion in 2025, a record for the product suite.
Year-to-date data shows:
- Average daily volume of 407,200 contracts, up 46% from a year earlier
- Average daily open interest of 335,400 contracts, up 7% year-over-year
- Futures average daily volume of 403,900 contracts, up 47% compared with the same period last year
The exchange said the growth reflects broader participation from institutional and active traders seeking regulated exposure to digital assets.
Expansion of futures offerings
Weeks ago, CME expanded its crypto lineup beyond Bitcoin and Ether products. On February 10, the exchange launched regulated futures tied to Chainlink, making the contracts available to both institutional and retail participants.
The LINK futures are offered in two sizes: a standard contract representing 5,000 tokens and a micro contract covering 250 tokens.
At the same time, CME introduced futures contracts for Cardano and Stellar. According to the exchange, ADA futures include a standard contract sized at 100,000 coins and a micro version covering 10,000 coins.
Aligning with the nonstop market
Crypto spot markets trade without closing hours, creating potential gaps between price movements and derivatives market access. By extending trading hours on Globex, CME is positioning its regulated contracts to track price changes more closely and provide hedging tools at any time.
The move places CME’s crypto derivatives closer to the around-the-clock model already common on offshore exchanges.
Also Read: Nasdaq and CME Relaunch Crypto Index to Meet Institutional Demand
