CME Group, recognized as the largest derivatives exchange globally, is set to launch around-the-clock trading for its crypto futures and options contracts starting on May 29. This initiative allows market participants to engage in trading Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital asset derivatives at any hour via the CME Globex platform. While there will be minimal maintenance each weekend, regulatory approval is still pending for this change to take full effect.
Why is continuous access to crypto markets important? Continuous trading ensures that clients can effectively manage their exposure and execute trades with confidence irrespective of traditional business hour constraints. This shift aligns CME's offerings with the demanding pace of spot crypto markets, where trading activity frequently intensifies outside typical U.S. business hours.
There has been a notable rise in demand for CME's digital asset products, which saw a notional volume of $3 trillion in 2025. Furthermore, in early 2026, the average daily contracts traded increased by 46% compared to the previous year, reaching an impressive 407,200.
Since launching Bitcoin futures in 2017, CME has progressively expanded its crypto offerings, introducing Ether futures in 2021 and more recently adding contracts tied to other cryptocurrencies such as Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar in February. Although open interest in Bitcoin derivatives has diminished to about $44 billion according to CoinGlass, institutional interest in regulated platforms remains strong as U.S. policy evolves concerning digital assets.