CME Goes 24/7: Crypto Futures Lead Nonstop Trading Shift

- CME Group to offer 24/7 trading for crypto futures and options by early 2026. - Move responds to institutional demand and highlights crypto's role in nonstop markets. On October 2, 2025, The Block reported CME Group’s plan to introduce 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options. Pending regulatory approval, this change will start in early 2026. This decision marks a major milestone in market operations, driven by rising demand from institutional clients who seek uninterrupted access to cryptocurrency markets for exposure and risk management. The move reflects broader industry shifts toward continuous trading, with cryptocurrencies at the forefront of this transformation. CME’s Chairman and CEO, Terry Duffy, described the 24/7 trading framework as the future of finance, highlighting how cryptocurrency markets are spearheading this evolution. In addition, other prominent exchanges echo the need to adopt nonstop trading models to better align with client preferences. CME’s cryptocurrency product line has recorded consistent growth and record-high average daily volumes. Building on this momentum, the exchange will add options on Solana and XRP futures to its portfolio. These new products demonstrate increasing institutional interest in regulated digital asset derivatives and reinforce the mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies within financial markets. Under the new 24/7 schedule, CME's cryptocurrency products will trade continuously on CME Globex, with a brief maintenance window during weekends. Furthermore, trades from holidays or weekends will settle on the next business day. According to market data on October 2, at 16:15 UTC, Solana (SOL) traded at $228.88, and its 24-hour trading volume grew by 3.786%. Meanwhile, XRP stood at $3.026, reflecting a 2.818% increase over the same period.