Chicago-based derivatives market large CME Group introduced this Thursday, February 19, 2026, that Bitcoin (BTC) and digital foreign money futures and choices contracts will probably be obtainable for buying and selling 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The measures will come into impact on Could 29, however are topic to overview by the corresponding regulatory authorities.
At present, these operations can be found Sunday via Friday from 6:00 PM to five:00 PM (New York time) the next day. There’s a 60-minute interruption every day, and the market closes from 5pm on Friday to 6pm on Sunday.
The corporate’s resolution is Institutional investor exercise has elevated considerably. In response to the corporate’s official assertion, the buying and selling quantity of its Bitcoin and cryptocurrency merchandise will attain a report 3 billion in 2025 (TrillionThis displays the rising want for danger administration instruments that aren’t disrupted by conventional market closures.
It’s price clarifying {that a} weekly upkeep window of at the least 2 hours is maintained over the weekend.
Tim McCourt, World Head of Equities and Various Merchandise at CME Group, stated: All the time-on entry ensures shoppers can “handle their exposures and commerce with confidence at any time.”.
Relating to the logistics of the operation, CME detailed that trades made on holidays or weekends will probably be traded on the subsequent enterprise day. Moreover, clearing, settlement, and regulatory reporting are processed the subsequent enterprise day.
As reported by CriptoNoticias, Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency is attracting consideration at CME Group. Final month, Chainlink (LINK), Cardano (ADA), and Stellar (XLM) futures started buying and selling on the trade. Moreover, CME plans to associate with Google to launch its personal cryptocurrency.

