CME Group will run cryptocurrency futures and options on CME Globex around the clock starting May 29, 2026, after recording $3 trillion in notional volume across its crypto derivatives in 2025.
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Why it matters:
- Traders can react to breaking news on weekends, eliminating the price gap risk that builds when crypto markets move while CME is closed.
- Institutions managing crypto exposure via CME derivatives gain continuous hedging access, reducing overnight risk accumulation.
- The move signals CME’s direct response to demand from TradFi firms scaling into digital assets.
The details:
- CME Group announced the 24/7 schedule on February 19, 2026, pending regulatory approval, per an official press release.
- Crypto derivatives average daily volume (ADV) hit 407,200 contracts year-to-date in 2026, up 46% year-over-year.
- Futures ADV reached 403,900 contracts, up 47% year-over-year, per CME Group data.
- Average daily open interest stands at 335,400 contracts, up 7% year-over-year.
- CME confirmed the launch date of May 29, 2026, via its official X account.
The big picture:
- CME’s 2025 crypto notional volume of $3 trillion confirms institutional demand for regulated derivatives now rivals spot market activity.
- The 24/7 schedule aligns CME with native crypto exchanges, which have always traded continuously, narrowing a structural gap between TradFi and DeFi.
- Continuous trading on a regulated venue could pull institutional volume away from offshore perpetual futures markets.
