CME Kicks-Off 24/7 Trading as Volumes Surge Onchain

CME Group launched 24/7 trading on Friday 29 May for its cryptocurrency futures and options, expanding trading hours and access to the exchange’s derivatives markets including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The move signals gathering momentum in traditional markets to eliminate gaps in trading hours, especially after the costs of closed markets became painfully clear during the start of tensions between the US and Iran in the Middle East earlier this year. Traders from oil, gold and equity markets are rushing to find ways to trade on market places such as Hyperliquid, where perpetual futures provide synthetic exposure to these assets during periods when traditional markets are closed, such as weekends.

In just two months, the share of these real-world assets more than doubled on Hyperliquid, reaching a record $2.7 billion in late May. The CME’s move brings the largest regulated derivatives exchange in the world in line with crypto markets, where investors are able to take risk without interruption.

“Client demand for risk management in the digital asset market is at an all-time high, driving a record $3 trillion in notional volume across our cryptocurrency futures and options in 2025,” says Tim McCourt, global head of equities, FX and alternative products at CME Group. “While not all markets lend themselves to operating 24/7, providing always-on access to our regulated products ensures clients can manage their exposure and trade with confidence at any time.”