Chicago's CME Group is getting ready to keep its crypto lights on almost nonstop, announcing Thursday that its cryptocurrency futures and options will be tradable around the clock starting Friday, May 29, pending regulatory approval. The shift will let institutional desks manage positions at any hour on the exchange's Globex platform and narrow the timing gap with always-on crypto venues. For a market that has long paused derivative trading on weekends, it is a significant operational step.
What changes and when
Beginning at 4:00 p.m. Central on Friday, May 29, CME Group's cryptocurrency futures and options are slated to trade continuously on CME Globex, with at least a two hour weekly maintenance window over the weekend, according to CME Group. Trades executed from Friday evening through Sunday evening will carry a trade date of the following business day, and clearing, settlement and regulatory reporting for that weekend activity will be processed on the next business day. The rollout remains subject to regulatory review.
Why CME is making the move
Tim McCourt, CME's global head of equities, FX and alternative products, said client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all time high, and the exchange reported that its crypto derivatives handled a record $3 trillion in notional volume in 2025. The company is framing the change as a response to rising institutional activity that is increasingly gravitating toward regulated, onshore markets. The quote and volume figures came from the firm's announcement, according to CME Group.
What it means for traders
Bringing trading hours closer to 24/7 spot markets could help reduce the weekend gaps that sometimes amplify price swings, and it may pull some trading activity from offshore venues back onshore. As CoinDesk noted, the change gives regulated U.S. venues a shot at competing with offshore platforms such as Binance by offering around the clock access while preserving clearing and reporting standards. Traders will be watching liquidity and spreads in the new hours to see whether institutional participation actually follows the expanded schedule.
Who uses CME's crypto contracts
Hedge funds, proprietary trading firms and asset managers have been using CME futures and options to hedge spot exposure, run basis trades and take directional views without holding underlying tokens, according to coverage by Cointelegraph. Research from Kaiko and other market data providers indicates that institutional flows and ETF liquidity in 2024–25 helped deepen onshore derivative markets, reinforcing the case for wider hours. The expansion further cements Chicago's role as a central hub for U.S. derivatives trading.
Next steps and what to watch
The extended schedule still needs regulatory sign off, and if it is approved the change will take effect on the May 29 start date. Market participants will be monitoring weekend liquidity, margining and whether the new hours cut down on large weekend liquidations. Observers will also keep an eye on whether other exchanges follow CME's lead and how back office systems handle the trade date convention for weekend activity. For now, industry coverage points to CME's plan to preserve a short weekly maintenance window and to process clearing, settlement and regulatory reporting on the next business day, pending approval from regulators, per CoinDesk.
