Traders of stocks and other conventional financial assets around the globe are expressing a desire for the ability to engage in buying and selling around the clock. In response, major U.S. stock exchanges such as Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) are preparing to implement 24/7 trading in the near future.
“We are certainly observing a shift in the markets,” remarked Giang Bui, head of U.S. Equities & Exchange-Traded Products at Nasdaq, during the recent Digital Asset Summit held in New York. “There is significant global interest in U.S. stocks, and individuals want to trade when they are awake, which is partly driven by their experience with 24/7 crypto trading.”
Both Nasdaq and the NYSE are seeking the necessary approvals to offer continuous trading, potentially extending their hours to five or even seven days per week. Nasdaq has recently disclosed that discussions with regulators regarding this change have commenced, while the NYSE has already secured approval.
Continuous trading could bring numerous benefits to the markets, such as higher trading volumes and enhanced market liquidity, allowing traders the flexibility of not being confined to specific time zones. Currently, the U.S. stock market operates from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
“Feedback indicates that this is a universal demand from global broker dealers and their clients, including those within the U.S. Numerous U.S. brokers have already begun offering overnight trading because their clients are accustomed to trading cryptocurrencies during those hours,” Bui continued.
In addition, Nasdaq features various crypto-related products, including the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and the BlackRock-issued spot ETF, which had the most successful debut in U.S. ETF history. Earlier today, the exchange also listed two futures ETFs for Solana (SOL), launched by Volatility Shares.