CME Group Live 24/7 Crypto Futures and Options, Launches Bitcoin Volatility Contracts

CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives market, has launched 24/7 trading of cryptocurrency futures and options, marking a structural change in the way regulated derivatives markets adapt to the volatile nature of digital assets.

Trading began at 4:00 pm Central Time on Friday, May 29, on the CME Globex exchange platform. In the first weekend, more than 7,200 crypto futures and options contracts changed hands, creating nearly $50 million in speculative value — a figure CME said reflected demand from retail and institutional participants, the CME Group said in a release.

This move closes a gap that has been frustrating crypto traders. Under the previous schedule, CME’s crypto derivatives have been suspended on weekends, creating price discontinuity when existing markets move and futures cannot respond.

Now, with a near continuous schedule and a two-hour maintenance window each weekend, sellers can respond to market events at any hour.

“By offering ongoing weekend cash, we are meeting customer demand and bridging the gap between traditionally regulated environments and the 24/7 nature of crypto assets,” said Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities, FX and Other Products at CME Group. “Since we launched our first Bitcoin futures contract in 2017, the ecosystem has evolved in many ways.”