Starting from the end of July, CME will launch "7×24" around-the-clock trading for gold and crude oil futures contracts.

CME Group announced plans to launch around-the-clock trading for gold and crude oil futures contracts, officially introducing the "7×24" continuous trading model into mainstream regulated derivatives markets. On June 12, Bloomberg reported that CME will first launch 24-hour trading for 1-ounce gold futures on July 26. A new, smaller crude oil-linked contract will go live on August 30, with a size one-tenth that of the existing Micro WTI futures contract. Both contracts are pending regulatory approval and will be traded on NYMEX and COMEX respectively, settled in cash. Against this backdrop, the popularity of 24-hour trading on offshore platforms such as Hyperliquid continues to rise—energy markets have experienced dramatic fluctuations due to the Iran war, causing trading volumes of related crude-linked products to surge. Meanwhile, platforms like Binance, also operating outside US regulatory jurisdiction, have recently launched 24-hour commodity trading services. Analysts say CME’s move aims to bring this demand into a regulated trading framework. Regulatory Pressure and Market Competition Drive CME's Accelerated Deployment of Round-the-Clock Trading CME's launch of 24-hour contracts is a response to simultaneous regulatory and competitive pressures. On the regulatory front, Bloomberg previously reported that Intercontinental Exchange Inc. and CME have jointly pressured US regulators to impose restrictions on offshore platforms like Hyperliquid. However, before regulatory actions take effect, CME has chosen to proactively enter the market with its own products, offering investors an alternative channel for regulated round-the-clock trading. In terms of product design, the newly introduced crude oil contract is only one-tenth the size of the existing Micro WTI futures, further lowering participation thresholds and clearly targeting retail and small-scale traders. For gold, the existing 1-ounce contract will be used, but with trading hours extended to uninterrupted trading throughout the week. Both contracts use cash settlement, further simplifying the delivery process and lowering entry barriers. From a market perspective, the ongoing turbulence in energy markets caused by the Iran war has sharply increased investor demand for tools that can respond to geopolitical events outside traditional trading hours. Offshore platforms like Hyperliquid have relied on this demand to achieve rapid growth in trading volume. CME’s strategy essentially channels this demand from regulatory gray areas into the regulated exchange environment, while also winning new incremental business for itself. Currently, the contracts are pending regulatory approval, and whether they can launch as scheduled will depend on the approval process. Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market carries risks and investments should be made with caution. This article does not constitute individual investment advice and does not take into account particular investment objectives, financial situations, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints or conclusions in this article are appropriate to their specific circumstances. Investment based on this information is at your own risk.