CME to Flip the Switch on 24/7 Crypto Futures and Options on May 29

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Starting May 29, CME Group will activate continuous trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options contracts, offering institutional investors round-the-clock access to regulated derivatives for major digital assets like Bitcoin and Ether.

The initiative, confirmed in an announcement on Thursday, advances the exchange’s earlier roadmap to make its crypto offerings “always on” by 2026, following the necessary regulatory reviews.

This shift addresses a critical friction point for institutional traders: while the underlying spot market for digital assets never sleeps, the regulated futures market has traditionally operated within set hours, creating potential windows of risk exposure.

Since introducing Bitcoin futures in 2017, CME has cemented its role as a primary hub for institutions seeking regulated exposure to the asset class, later expanding to include Ether futures and options.

More recently, the exchange has been actively widening its digital asset menu, adding products for Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar to capture growing demand beyond the largest cryptocurrencies.