CME will launch cryptocurrency derivatives for 24/7 trading in early 2026

ChainCatcher news, according to the CME Group official website, CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) announced that its cryptocurrency futures and options will achieve 7×24 continuous trading on CME Globex starting in early 2026, with only about two hours of weekend maintenance window each week, to be implemented after regulatory review.

For holidays or weekends, trading from Friday evening to Sunday evening will use the next business day as the trading day, with clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting being postponed accordingly. CME stated that in 2025, cryptocurrency derivatives set new records: on September 18, the nominal open interest reached $39 billion; in August, the average open interest was 335,200 contracts, a year-on-year increase of 95%, with a nominal value of about $31.6 billion; August ADV was 411,000 contracts, a year-on-year increase of 230%, with a nominal value of about $14.9 billion; there were over 1,010 large holders.