CME Goes 24/7 Crypto-What Could Go Wrong?

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So here’s the big idea from the folks at CME Group: 24/7 trading for crypto futures and options starting in early 2026. Yes, nonstop crypto chatter at 3 a.m.-because apparently sleep is for people who don’t want to miss a tick. 😂

If regulators give the thumbs-up, CME would become the first major U.S.-regulated exchange to offer around-the-clock access to crypto derivatives, basically DeFi without the disco ball. Or maybe with it. Who knows? 🤔

Rising Client Demand

The derivatives marketplace announced, subject to regulatory green light, that customers could trade cryptocurrency futures and options “24 hours a day, seven days a week” starting in early 2026. The push? Clients want nonstop risk management and liquidity, because apparently risk wait-times are a luxury we can no longer afford. 💼

“While not all markets lend themselves to operating 24/7, client demand for around-the-clock cryptocurrency trading has grown as market participants need to manage their risk every day of the week,” said Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX and Alternative Products at CME Group. Translation: the loudest clients win more hours. Great. 🙄

The expanded hours will cover CME’s crypto lineup-Bitcoin and Ethereum futures and options-trading continuously via the CME Globex platform, with a two-hour weekend maintenance window. Weekend and holiday trades go to the next business day, with clearing and reporting handled the same way. Perfect, because nothing says consistency like a two-hour snooze button on weekends.

Nate Geraci, president of NovaDius Wealth Management, called the move a sign that traditional finance is bending toward DeFi practices, adding it’s “just the beginning.” Ah yes, the DeFi metamorphosis: from wild west to a well-dressed marathon. 🏃‍♂️💨

At a joint SEC-CFTC roundtable, CEO Terrence Duffy said he expects demand for 24/7 trading to grow, noting crypto offers the clearest path to achieving it. The clearest path? It’s either a highway or a rickety bridge-the sign says 24/7, the road signs say maybe. 🚧

Other executives chimed in as well: Jeff Sprecher (Intercontinental Exchange) said markets should decide which assets are suited for continuous trading. Adena Friedman (Nasdaq) explained Nasdaq is working toward 24/5 equities but faces practical challenges. It’s the dream: more hours, more paperwork, more questions. 🧭

Crypto Derivatives Hit Record Highs

The move could attract institutions seeking a regulated home base with the freedom of nonstop hours-like a high-stakes clock with better paperwork. If approved, CME might outrun offshore rivals that run nonstop but skip on the regulatory fanfare. No guarantees, just lots of potential. 🚀

Meanwhile, CME’s crypto derivatives are already hitting numbers in 2025: notional open interest reached a record $39 billion in September. In August, average daily open interest jumped 95% year over year to 335,200 contracts, and average daily volume surged 230% to 411,000 contracts. More than 1,010 large open interest holders across its crypto offerings-because apparently big money loves a big schedule. 💰

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2025-10-04 01:35