Chicago-based derivatives market giant CME Group announced this Thursday, February 19, 2026, that Bitcoin (BTC) and virtual currency futures and options contracts will be available for trading 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The measures will come into effect on May 29, but are subject to review by the corresponding regulatory authorities.
Currently, these operations are available Sunday through Friday from 6:00 PM to 5:00 PM (New York time) the following day. There is a 60-minute interruption each day, and the market closes from 5pm on Friday to 6pm on Sunday.
The company’s decision is Institutional investor activity has increased significantly. According to the company’s official statement, the trading volume of its Bitcoin and cryptocurrency products will reach a record 3 billion in 2025 (TrillionThis reflects the growing need for risk management tools that are not disrupted by traditional market closures.
It is worth clarifying that a weekly maintenance window of at least 2 hours is maintained over the weekend.
Tim McCourt, Global Head of Equities and Alternative Products at CME Group, said: Always-on access ensures clients can “manage their exposures and trade with confidence at any time.”.
Regarding the logistics of the operation, CME detailed that trades made on holidays or weekends will be traded on the next business day. Additionally, clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting are processed the next business day.
As reported by CriptoNoticias, Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency is attracting attention at CME Group. Last month, Chainlink (LINK), Cardano (ADA), and Stellar (XLM) futures began trading on the exchange. Additionally, CME plans to partner with Google to launch its own cryptocurrency.
