Nasdaq Ditches Traditional Trading Schedule for Crypto-Friendly 23-Hour Days

Nasdaq is revamping its trading schedule to match the pace of crypto markets. The world's largest stock market plans to launch near-round-the-clock trading on December 6, 2026.

The new schedule will see Nasdaq operating 23 hours a day, five days a week, from Sunday evening to Friday evening every week. This is a significant departure from the traditional multi-century trading schedule of 4:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m ET, with a core trading session occurring between 9.30 a.m and 4:00 p.m.

Nasdaq President Tal Cohen noted that its new trading timelines will capture global trading in US equities, which surged by 97% between 2019 and 2024.