CME Group has confirmed it will begin offering 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency futures and options starting May 29, with markets opening at 5:00 p.m. ET. While the exchange first revealed plans for continuous crypto trading in October 2025, this is the first time it has announced a firm launch date.
According to the company, the new crypto futures and options markets will operate nearly nonstop on CME Globex, subject to regulatory approval. Trading will pause each week briefly for routine system maintenance, with at least a 2-hour window scheduled over the weekend.
Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX, and Alternative Products at CME Group, said demand for digital asset risk-management tools has reached unprecedented levels. He noted that cryptocurrency futures and options on the exchange generated a record $3 trillion in notional trading volume in 2025, underscoring the need for greater flexibility in access. “Continuous trading,” he added, “gives market participants the ability to manage exposure at any time while using regulated and transparent products.”
Interest in CME Group’s crypto offerings has accelerated significantly. Notional volume hit $3 trillion in 2025, and average daily trading activity climbed 46% year over year, reaching more than 407,000 contracts in early 2026.
Despite recent volatility and price declines across the broader crypto market, digital assets continue to attract attention from investors. Over the past year, cryptocurrencies have become increasingly integrated with traditional finance, driven in part by the growth of stablecoins and the adoption of crypto exchange-traded funds.
