CME Group Unveils Continuous Trading for Crypto Derivatives
CME Group has announced that it will begin offering round-the-clock trading in its cryptocurrency futures and options on May 29. This move marks a significant shift for the largest U.S.-regulated crypto derivatives marketplace, which has helped introduce institutional investors to digital assets since launching cash-settled Bitcoin futures in 2017.
The new continuous market structure will allow trading on CME Globex to run nearly uninterrupted, with clearing and reporting for weekend activity processed on the following business day. This change is expected to strengthen CME's position in the institutional market by allowing participants to hedge portfolios and manage collateral in real-time.
Record volumes have driven the expansion of trading hours, with cryptocurrency derivatives generating $3 trillion in notional volume in 2025. The exchange said demand for risk management tools in digital assets has accelerated, reflecting increased participation from institutional traders and the expansion of micro-sized contracts designed for more precise exposure management.