Bitcoin Price Gaps Leave ETF Investors Waiting

Bitcoin's price can move significantly between Friday's close and Monday's opening bell due to its global trading schedule. This creates challenges for investors who hold Bitcoin through a brokerage account, such as those using spot ETFs like the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). While these funds provide easy access to Bitcoin ownership, they are subject to traditional market hours, which can lead to a large price gap when trading resumes.

The NYSE core session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on business days, providing six and a half hours of the deepest and most consistent ETF trading. However, Bitcoin continues to trade globally outside these hours, leading to potential price movements that can be reflected in the fund's share price when it opens.

Regulated derivatives, such as those offered by CME Group, have helped narrow this divide by providing professional investors with another route for managing crypto exposure outside traditional market hours. Despite this, ETF investors are still left waiting until Monday to trade their shares after a significant weekend price movement.