CME Group Launches 24/7 Bitcoin and Ether Futures After $3 Trillion Volume
CME•CME Group has shifted Bitcoin and Ether futures to 24/7 trading, eliminating the Friday-to-Sunday gap with a two-hour maintenance pause each Saturday. The change follows $3 trillion in notional crypto futures volume in 2025 and precedes CEO Terry Duffy’s June 4 Piper Sandler presentation.
1. Continuous Crypto Futures Trading
At 4:00 p.m. CT on May 29, CME Group switched Bitcoin and Ether futures and options trading to a continuous 24/7 schedule on its Globex platform, leaving only a two-hour maintenance break between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. UTC on Saturdays.
2. Weekend Liquidity and Gap Resolution
With the elimination of the Friday-to-Sunday gap traders relied on, weekend trading may see thinner liquidity, and three unfilled gaps near $80,000, $78,500, and below $70,000 will require resolution through normal market movements.
3. Crypto Futures Volume and Client Demand
CME recorded $3 trillion in notional crypto futures and options volume in 2025 as hedge funds and asset managers sought round-the-clock risk management, prompting the shift to continuous trading.
4. CEO Presentation at Piper Sandler Conference
CME Group Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy will present at the Piper Sandler Global Exchange and Fintech Conference on June 4 to discuss market structure, future growth strategies, and digital asset risk solutions.
