Coinbase Derivatives Launches the First CFTC-regulated 24/7 Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH] Futures Trading

Markets never sleep—why should traders?Traders will no longer be constrained by traditional market hours, allowing for real-time responses to price movements.

Coinbase is set to introduce the first CFTC-regulated 24/7 Bitcoin [BTC] and Ethereum [ETH] futures trading in the United States. The move marks a significant shift in U.S crypto derivatives, aligning with global markets that operate continuously.

As tradition financial markets set move towards continuous trading, Nasdaq has announced plans to introduce 24-hour stock trading by 2026 in response to growing demand for always-on markets.

“We are excited to share that Nasdaq has begun engaging with regulators, market participants and other key stakeholders, with a view of enabling 24-hour trading five days a week on the Nasdaq Stock Market.”

Along with that, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has highlighted how blockchain technology enables seamless, round-the-clock trading. This, in contrast with legacy financial infrastructure that relies on set trading windows.

“24/7 is going to be tough with traditional infrastructure, but if we think about tokenization, that’s one of the advantages… blockchains run 24/7—it’s just software.”

Coinbase’s move comes in response to strong demand from crypto-native traders, according to Greg Tusar, Coinbase’s VP of Institutional Product.

“Crypto markets never sleep, and traders need the ability to manage risk and seize opportunities in real time. By introducing 24/7 futures and developing a perpetual-style contract, we’re bringing US-regulated markets in line with the global crypto economy.”

The push towards 24/7 trading has already demonstrated benefits in some global markets. For instance, the Taiwan Stock Exchange saw trading volumes increase after introducing more continuous trading sessions.

The crypto derivatives market, which comprises about 75% of total crypto trading volume, is poised for significant growth, expanding from $1.5 billion in 2024 to $5 billion by 2032.

Historically, a large portion of this trading activity has taken place offshore, on platforms such as Binance, which offer perpetual futures and 24/7 trading beyond the scope of U.S. regulators.

With Coinbase launching continuous futures within a CFTC-regulated framework, traders based in the U.S will now have a compliant option available to them.

Recent events have highlighted the limitations of fixed hours. When Donald Trump announced a proposed U.S Crypto Reserve on a Sunday, crypto traders were able to react instantly, while traditional market participants had to wait until Monday.

This delay underscores the relative inefficiencies of legacy market structures in a digital-first era.