CME Group to launch 24/7 crypto futures

CME Group will launch 24/7 trading for its regulated cryptocurrency futures and options from 4 p.m. CT on May 29, pending regulatory approval, marking a structural shift in traditional derivatives market access to digital assets.

The Chicago-based exchange said the products will trade continuously on its Globex platform with a two-hour weekly maintenance window, as client demand for crypto risk management pushed notional volumes to $3 trillion in 2025 and lifted average daily volume 46% year on year to 407,200 contracts.

“Crypto Never Sleeps—Now CME Group Won’t Either,”

The company said in its announcement.

Year-to-date average daily open interest stands at 335,400 contracts, up 7%, while futures account for 403,900 contracts in average daily volume, representing a 47% annual increase as institutional participation deepens.

Unlike spot exchanges such as Binance that already operate continuously, most traditional derivatives venues have adhered to fixed trading hours, leaving traders unable to respond immediately to weekend macro shocks or blockchain-specific developments.

Crypto futures are standardised contracts allowing traders to gain price exposure to assets such as bitcoin or ether without holding them directly, typically through cash settlement, while options on those futures grant the right but not the obligation to buy or sell at a predetermined price before expiry.