TLDR:
- CME will open crypto futures and options that shop around the clock from the beginning of 2026 for nonstop market access.
- Weekly two hours of maintenance windows will occur, with weekend shops that will determine the following working day.
- Crypto Futures on CME reached $ 39B open interest and 411,000 average daily contracts in August 2025.
- More than 1,010 large open interest holders participated in crypto products in September 2025 week.
CME group prepares to make Cryptocurrency Futures and options available for trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The move comes when customers increasingly require constant market access. The company confirmed that this extension will begin in early 2026, pending the legislation approval.
Traders will have the ability to handle risk at any time, including weekends and holidays. CME aims to ensure that its regulated crypto markets remain continuously available while maintaining operational reliability.
CME expands crypto -phutures and options
Tim McCourt, global director of shares, FX and alternative products at CME, said that the client’s demand for nonstop -trading had grown. He noted that some markets cannot work around the clock, but crypto requires uninterrupted access for risk management.
CME intends to give confidence in traders by keeping their markets open. Enlargement also reflects growing institutional participation in Crypto space.
The initiative will use CME Globe, the company’s electronic trading platform. Continuous trading will contain a minimum two hours of maintenance windows each week.
Shops that will be executed from Friday night to Sunday evening will have the following working day as a trade date. Cleaning, decommissioning and regulation reporting will also adapt to the next working day.
The announcement comes when CME’s crypto products have published record volumes this year. On September 18, the total nominal open interest rate reached $ 39 billion.
August registered an average daily open interest rate of 335,200 contracts, an increase of 95% from year to year. Daily trade volume in August made 411,000 contracts, which corresponds to $ 14.9 billion.
Crypto Futures growth and institutional demand
Market participation has risen together with CME’s product extension.
The week of September 25 saw over 1,010 large open interesting holders active in Cryptocurrency products. This indicates a broader base of institutional investors participating in the market. Analysts say that record volumes reflect an increasing interest in regulated cryptoderivate.
CME Group offers futures, alternatives and other derivatives of asset classes, including energy, metals, FX and crypto courses. The Globe platform enables seamless trade for global customers.
By extending crypto times, CME ensures accessibility for participants in different time zones. The continuous availability also positions CME as a Reliable hub for risk management in digital assets.
Traders can expect the same supervisory surveillance that controls CME’s existing markets. Procedures for compliance, cleansing and decommissioning will continue according to standard rules.
The extension of trade time does not change decommissioning practice but provides flexibility for the market players. The 24/7 model aims to match the client’s demand for liquidity during all hours.
Market observers point to these changes as a reflection of Crypto’s maturity in institutional circles. Nonstop trading can attract new participants while improving fuse strategies for existing ones.
The continuous schedule also corresponds to the rapid nature of digital assets. CME’s strategy combines market access with structured clearing to mitigate operational risks.
