The CFTC has greenlit round-the-clock trading in the crypto derivatives market while warning about risks to other segments of financial derivatives.
.@CFTC Staff Issues Advisory on 24/7 Trading, Clearing, and Settlement: https://t.co/Nt3v5zJzdj
— CFTC (@CFTC) May 29, 2026
On May 29, the commission issued a letter to market participants, stating that the shift to 24/7 trading and clearing "may not currently be suitable for all asset classes" due to differences in underlying markets.
The CFTC acknowledged that blockchain infrastructure, alternative forms of collateral—including crypto assets and stablecoins—and mobile access have made the 24/7 model viable for digital assets. Platforms are already providing continuous access to both retail and institutional clients.
Traditional markets, including agricultural derivatives, are less prepared for this model due to the specifics of their client base, regional structures, and hedging practices.
The main risk involves potential abuses during periods of reduced oversight. Transitioning certain products to a 24/7 model could negatively impact liquidity, increase volatility, and widen spreads, creating more opportunities for manipulation.
The regulator has mandated that platforms enhance compliance and notify the commission in advance of plans to launch a 24/7 model.
This letter was released on the same day the CFTC approved crypto companies to launch perpetual futures trading around the clock.
Coinbase announced that it is already restructuring traditional financial services on a crypto infrastructure. According to the company, its platform offers stocks, futures, and prediction markets 24/7, and the regulator's decision will allow for the addition of global options and perpetual contracts through its regulated division.
We're bringing global crypto derivatives to the U.S.
Coinbase is the first regulated company to bring global crypto options & perpetual futures to the States, thanks to @CFTC.
→ Tap the deepest crypto options & perps liquidity
— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) May 29, 2026
→ Access >$31B BTC options OI via Deribit
→… pic.twitter.com/CD1GsbX7Lj
It is worth noting that in May, the exchange operator Intercontinental Exchange approached the regulator seeking "a level playing field" in the on-chain perpetual futures market.