Bitcoin futures on CME now trade continuously, eliminating weekend price gaps that traders used as short-term signals for eight years.
Bitcoin (BTC) futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) began trading around the clock on May 29, removing weekend closures that created price gaps since 2017. The change ends an eight-year market pattern where gaps often filled within days, with historical fill rates between 70% and 90%.
Traders relied on these gaps as short-term price targets, but institutions faced challenges adjusting hedges over weekends on regulated venues. CME now offers continuous trading for Bitcoin, Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), and six other cryptocurrency contracts, with brief daily maintenance windows.
The shift may reduce volatility tied to gap-filling strategies, though existing gaps on charts remain visible. Analysts note BTC is now trading in a range between remaining gaps, with no new gaps expected.