CME Group announces the launch of 24/7 around-the-clock crypto options service

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME Group), a U.S. derivatives trading exchange, announced that, subject to regulatory approval, it plans to provide 24/7 trading services for its cryptocurrency futures and options ( options ) products starting from early 2026. This move is seen as a significant milestone for the regulated cryptocurrency derivatives market in the United States and demonstrates CME’s proactive response to market demand for real-time risk management tools.

CME Crypto Business Hits New Highs, Launches 24/7 Service to Keep Markets Always Online

According to the plan, CME’s cryptocurrency futures and options will continue to operate on the CME Globex electronic trading platform, with only about two hours of system maintenance reserved for weekends. Trades executed during weekends or holidays will be settled on the next business day, and related clearing and settlement processes will be adjusted accordingly. CME stated that infrastructure will be simultaneously optimized to ensure the market remains highly stable and compliant in an around-the-clock environment.

Tim McCourt, head of CME Group’s global equities, foreign exchange, and alternative products, noted that although not all asset classes are suitable for 24/7 trading, cryptocurrencies inherently have a continuous trading market characteristic, and market participants need to manage price fluctuations and risks at any time. He said that customer demand for a regulated, trustworthy 24/7 cryptocurrency trading environment is rapidly increasing, and CME will ensure its cryptocurrency market remains “always online,” allowing investors to trade and hedge with confidence at any time.

This potential regulatory adjustment comes as CME’s cryptocurrency trading volume continues to reach new heights. According to CME’s latest market statistics, the average daily trading volume of cryptocurrency products in Q3 2025 reached a record 340,000 contracts, with a notional value of approximately $14.1 billion. Ethereum futures trading volume hit a new quarterly high of 236,000 contracts, and micro Ethereum futures also set a historical record with 209,000 contracts.

In September 2025 alone, the daily average trading volume of cryptocurrency products reached 309,000 contracts, with micro Ethereum futures experiencing an annual growth rate of 472%. These figures highlight the increasing importance of digital assets within CME’s overall product portfolio, echoing the strong growth of core commodities such as U.S. Treasuries, stock indices, and metals.

Market analysts suggest that if the 24/7 trading plan is successfully implemented, it will help reduce traders’ reliance on offshore or unregulated trading venues during weekends and overnight periods, further consolidating CME’s dominant position in the U.S. regulated cryptocurrency derivatives market. However, this transformation also means that clearing, margin calculation, and settlement processes must be comprehensively upgraded to support an uninterrupted market structure.

CME Plans to Launch Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar Futures Contracts in February

In addition to the trading system adjustments, CME continues to expand its cryptocurrency product lineup. Recently, CME announced plans to launch futures contracts for Cardano ADA, Chainlink LINK, and Stellar (Lumens) on February 9, pending regulatory approval. The new products will offer both standard and micro contracts, allowing investors of different capital sizes to participate flexibly.

Specifically, each ADA futures contract is for 100,000 ADA, with a micro contract of 10,000 ADA; LINK futures are for 5,000 tokens, with a micro contract of 250 tokens; Lumens futures are for 250,000 Lumens, with a micro contract of 12,500 Lumens.

Giovanni Vicioso, head of CME’s global cryptocurrency products, stated that as the cryptocurrency market experienced record growth over the past year, clients are seeking more transparent and regulated tools to manage price risks. The new contracts will provide higher flexibility and capital efficiency for the market.

Several market institutions also expressed positive views on CME’s expansion strategy. Wedbush Securities noted that the maturity of the regulated cryptocurrency futures market is continuously improving; NinjaTrader regarded this move as a significant milestone for the futures industry; and Volatility Shares stated that the launch of more compliant products will help enhance the overall risk management capabilities of the market.

Currently, CME’s cryptocurrency products include futures and options for Bitcoin BTC, Ethereum ETH, Ripple XRP, and Solana SOL. In 2025, the daily trading volume and open interest of related futures and options reached all-time highs, indicating that institutional and retail investors’ demand for regulated cryptocurrency derivatives continues to grow.

This article, CME announces the launch of 24/7 cryptocurrency options service, first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.