CME Announces Launch Date for 24/7 Cryptocurrency Trading

CME to start 24/7 trading for crypto futures and options on May 29.

On May 29, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) will commence round-the-clock trading for regulated cryptocurrency futures and options.

The crypto market doesn’t sleep. Now, your risk management doesn’t have to either. 🕐

24/7 trading for Cryptocurrency futures and options is coming May 29*, so you can manage your risk when you need to.

See what’s changing. ➡️ https://t.co/DQt7os6uFX

*Pending regulatory review pic.twitter.com/i6xjkJVffm

— CME Group (@CMEGroup) February 19, 2026

“Client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all-time high, leading to a record volume of $3 trillion in our crypto products in 2025,” stated Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equity, FX, and Alternative Products at CME Group, said.

According to him, not all markets are suited for continuous operation, but ensuring constant access to digital assets “guarantees clients the ability to manage their risks and trade with confidence.”

Operations will be conducted through the CME Globex platform. The terms include a technical break of at least two hours once a week.

The company clarified that the proposal is still under regulatory review.

Representatives of the trading platform also noted new records for crypto derivatives in 2026:

• The average daily volume reached 407,200 contracts, up 46% compared to the same period last year;
• The average daily open interest was 335,400 contracts, showing a 7% increase;
• The average daily volume for futures reached 403,900 contracts, rising by 47%.

Earlier, CME Group CEO Terrence Duffy announced that the exchange plans to release “tokenized cash” in partnership with Google Cloud. According to him, work is underway on a “native coin” that market participants will be able to use through a decentralized network to interact with other industry players.

Back in November 2025, major American bank JPMorgan launched the JPM Coin on the Base blockchain.