CME Group has begun offering 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency futures contracts, the derivatives exchange announced this week. The change means bitcoin and ether futures are now available around the clock, every day, in a bid to align with global market demand and improve operational efficiency.
What changed
Starting this week, traders can buy and sell CME's crypto futures at any hour — no more waiting for the opening bell. The new schedule covers both standard futures and micro futures for bitcoin and ether. Previously, these contracts traded on a set daily timetable with breaks between sessions. Now they run continuously.
Why the shift now
CME said the move responds directly to a growing global user base that needs access outside traditional U.S. market hours. Crypto markets never sleep, and institutional investors have increasingly demanded the same flexibility from regulated derivatives. The exchange also cited efficiency gains: 24/7 trading reduces the risk of price gaps between CME's close and spot market movements overnight.
For firms based in Asia or Europe, the change eliminates the lag between local market activity and CME pricing. A trader in Singapore can now hedge or speculate on U.S. news as it breaks, without waiting for CME to reopen. The continuous session also allows for tighter risk management during volatile periods — no more scrambling to adjust positions before a 5 p.m. close.
The exchange did not specify whether other CME products, such as equity index or commodity futures, would follow the same path. For now, the crypto suite is the only one running 24/7.
