Crypto futures and options at CME Group reached record activity, including $3 trillion notional volume in 2025 and higher volumes in 2026.
CME Group is preparing to expand its presence in digital asset derivatives by introducing round-the-clock crypto futures trading on its CME Globex platform. The move, set to begin on May 29, comes as the exchange reports rapid growth in cryptocurrency futures and options activity and rising client demand for tools to manage risk in the digital asset market.
According to the announcement, CME Group will allow cryptocurrency futures and options to trade continuously on CME Globex, effectively moving to a 24/7 structure. Trading will run without interruption except for a scheduled weekly maintenance pause of at least two hours over the weekend. The shift marks a closer alignment with the always-open nature of crypto spot markets, which do not follow traditional market hours.
The exchange specified that any trading activity that occurs on holidays or over the weekend, from Friday evening through Sunday evening, will be assigned the trade date of the next business day. This approach maintains consistency with existing back-office, settlement, and reporting practices while still enabling clients to transact during periods when traditional markets are closed.
This change represents a significant operational adjustment for the derivatives marketplace, which has historically aligned trading hours with conventional financial market schedules. By enabling nearly continuous access to crypto futures and options, CME Group aims to provide market participants with greater flexibility to react to price movements and manage exposures outside normal weekday hours.
CME Group framed the new trading schedule as a response to surging client interest in crypto-related risk management. Tim McCourt, global head of equities, FX and alternative products at the exchange, said digital asset risk management needs are at unprecedented levels. He highlighted that this demand has driven notional volume in the firm’s cryptocurrency futures and options to a record $3 trillion in 2025.
The momentum has not slowed in 2026. The exchange reported that cryptocurrency derivatives activity has continued to hit new volume records this year. Average daily volume across its crypto contracts has reached 407,200 contracts so far in 2026, a rise of 46% compared with the same period a year earlier. Average daily open interest has climbed to 335,400 contracts, representing a 7% year-over-year increase.
Futures contracts make up the bulk of trading on the platform. CME Group said average daily volume in crypto futures alone stands at 403,900 contracts this year, a 47% jump versus the previous year. Options activity, while not broken out in the same detail, is included within the total notional and volume figures that have reached record levels.
These statistics suggest that institutional and professional traders are increasingly using CME Group’s cryptocurrency products for hedging and speculative purposes. The decision to offer 24/7 access is positioned as a way to support this growing user base with more continuous market access, particularly during periods when digital asset prices often see significant volatility.
CME Group’s latest move builds on nearly a decade of involvement in regulated crypto derivatives. The exchange was among the first U.S. regulated derivatives venues to introduce cash-settled Bitcoin futures, launching those contracts in 2017. Since then, the firm has broadened its offering beyond Bitcoin to include futures and options linked to several major cryptocurrencies.
The current product suite includes derivatives based on large-cap digital assets such as BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP. These contracts allow participants to gain or hedge exposure to these tokens without directly holding the underlying assets. The products are cash-settled and operate within the same regulatory framework that governs CME Group’s broader futures and options markets.
Beyond the derivatives lineup, CME Group is also exploring a separate initiative that could push it further into the digital asset ecosystem. As reported earlier this month by The Defiant, the exchange is considering launching its own token. The token, if it moves forward, could be issued on a decentralized blockchain, though no further details on structure, timeline, or potential use cases have been disclosed.
The combination of a growing set of cryptocurrency derivatives, potential token plans, and the shift to continuous trading indicates that CME Group is treating digital assets as a core component of its long-term strategy rather than a peripheral product line. This strategy appears to be closely tied to the strong and sustained demand data the exchange has reported for its crypto offerings.
CME Group’s decision to introduce 24/7 crypto futures and options trading on CME Globex from May 29 underscores the growing integration of digital assets into mainstream derivatives markets. With record notional volumes of $3 trillion in 2025 and rising activity in 2026, the exchange is adjusting its operations to match client demand and the round-the-clock nature of cryptocurrency markets. Its existing portfolio of crypto derivatives, involvement since 2017, and exploration of a potential token on a decentralized blockchain all point to a continued expansion of its role in digital asset finance.
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