Three CFTC divisions issued staff guidance on 24/7 trading, clearing and settlement, telling exchanges, clearinghouses and brokers to meet existing Commodity Exchange Act obligations if they extend round-the-clock operations.
The advisory responds to growing interest in always-open markets and lays out staff expectations for designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, derivatives clearing organizations and futures commission merchants.
Crypto-linked derivatives were cited as relatively well suited to 24/7 trading because of digital infrastructure and global reach, while agricultural derivatives may be less suitable given regional customer bases and specialized hedging practices.
CFTC staff said registrants should take proactive steps so market evolution toward 24/7 activity remains compliant with commission rules, signaling closer scrutiny as firms test broader trading hours.
With trading now nonstop, how can markets function safely when the systems to settle trades still close on weekends?
As crypto markets race ahead 24/7, are traditional markets being forced into a high-risk future they cannot support?