Bitcoin News Today: Institutional Crypto Shift Drives 24/7 Trading Expansion

CME Group's announcement of 24/7 cryptocurrency futures and options trading in early 2026 coincided with a five-day surge in Bitcoin's price, which rose over $10,000 to briefly touch $119,500 on October 2, 2025. The price movement, attributed to broader macroeconomic factors such as a U.S. government shutdown, a weakening dollar, and inflows into Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs), underscored growing institutional demand for crypto exposure. Analysts noted that the CME's move to align its derivatives markets with the nonstop nature of crypto spot trading did not directly drive the rally but reflected a broader ecosystem shift toward institutional participationCME Group Unveils 24/7 Crypto Futures and Options Trading^[2].

CME's cryptocurrency products have seen explosive growth in 2025, with record notional open interest reaching $39 billion in September and average daily trading volume hitting 411,000 contracts in August-a 230% year-over-year increaseCME Group to Offer Around-the-Clock Trading for Cryptocurrency^[3]. The exchange's Bitcoin and Ethereum futures dominate the U.S. institutional derivatives market, with $16.8 billion and $9.8 billion in notional value, respectivelyCME Group to Launch 24/7 Crypto Futures and Options Trading^[1]. The planned 24/7 trading aims to address client demand for continuous risk management, particularly as weekend gaps in traditional markets have historically created arbitrage opportunities and price dislocationsCME Group to Launch 24/7 Trading for Crypto Futures and Options^[4].

Institutional adoption of crypto derivatives has accelerated, with over 1,010 large open interest holders active in CME's cryptocurrency products during the week of September 25CME Prepares 24/7 Crypto Futures Trading as Demand Surges^[5]. This diversification of participants suggests a maturing market structure, where hedge funds, asset managers, and corporates increasingly use regulated platforms to hedge exposure without directly holding tokens. The CME's expansion into Solana and XRP futures, alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, further highlights the broadening institutional footprint in the spaceCME Group to Launch 24/7 Crypto Futures Trading by 2026^[9].

The transition to 24/7 trading introduces operational adjustments, including a weekly two-hour maintenance window and weekend trades settling on the next business day. While clearing and settlement processes remain unchanged, the move is expected to enhance liquidity and reduce volatility by enabling real-time hedging across time zonesCME to Launch 24/7 Crypto Futures and Options Trading in 2026^[6]. Market observers anticipate that CME's regulatory oversight and central counterparty clearing will attract capital previously directed to less-regulated offshore platforms, reinforcing its role as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assetsCME to make crypto futures ‘always on’ with 24/7 trading in 2026^[7].

The surge in Bitcoin's price and institutional inflows align with broader trends in crypto market infrastructure. CME's announcement, alongside Cboe's planned continuous futures for Bitcoin and Ethereum, signals a competitive shift toward always-on trading models. Analysts caution that while the CME's move addresses operational inefficiencies, its long-term impact will depend on regulatory approval timelines and the ability to sustain high trading volumes post-launch. For now, the convergence of macroeconomic tailwinds and institutional infrastructure advancements appears to have created a self-reinforcing cycle of demand and price discovery in the crypto marketCME Group Unveils 24/7 Crypto Futures and Options Trading^[2].