Derivatives giant CME Group is launching 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options contracts on May 29. This move allows market participants to trade Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital asset derivatives at any time on the CME Globex platform, with only a short weekend maintenance window. The expansion aims to meet the growing demand for always-on digital asset risk management, as evidenced by record $3 trillion notional volume in 2025 and a 46% year-over-year increase in average daily contracts traded.
"Providing always-on access to our regulated, transparent Cryptocurrency products ensures clients can manage their exposure and trade with confidence at any time," stated Tim McCourt, a senior executive at CME Group. This aligns CME's offerings with the continuous nature of spot crypto markets, where trading activity often escalates outside traditional U.S. business hours.
CME Group has consistently expanded its crypto offerings since introducing Bitcoin futures in 2017 and Ether futures four years later. The exchange has also broadened its lineup to include contracts tied to Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar. Despite a recent pullback in open interest in Bitcoin derivatives across the market, institutional appetite for regulated trading venues remains strong amid evolving U.S. digital asset policy.