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CFTC Sets December 15 Roundtable on 24/7 Derivatives Trading

The CFTC will hold a public roundtable on December 15, 2026 to weigh whether U.S. derivatives markets should move to round-the-clock trading, building on a comment request issued earlier this year.

October 28, 2026·3 min readSourced · no paid placements

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on October 28 that it will convene an industry roundtable on December 15 to examine whether U.S. derivatives markets can and should operate around the clock. The session builds on a Request for Comment the agency issued earlier in the summer on 24/7 trading, according to the CFTC's announcement.

The agency framed the roundtable as a fact-finding exercise rather than a decision. Per the release, participants from across the industry will discuss overnight trading, tokenization, infrastructure, staffing needs, and operational readiness — the practical plumbing of extended hours, not just the appetite for them. The CFTC said the goal is to weigh how it can "promote responsible innovation while protecting market participants and preserving the integrity and resilience of U.S. derivatives markets."

Chairman Selig, quoted in the release, said the CFTC "will not take a one-size-fits-all approach to 24/7 trading" and wants to "hear directly from industry on their views for 24/7 trading across different asset classes." That last phrase is the tell: it leaves room to treat crypto derivatives, which already trade continuously on offshore and spot venues, differently from traditional futures.

The event will be held at CFTC headquarters in Washington, open to the public and livestreamed on CFTC.gov. In-person seating may be limited and visitors face security checks. The agenda, speaker list, and registration details will be posted later; the public can submit speaker nominations to Roundtables@CFTC.gov.

Key facts

  • The CFTC announced the roundtable on October 28, 2026 (CFTC Release 9318-26).
  • Date: December 15, 2026, at CFTC headquarters in Washington; open to the public and livestreamed on CFTC.gov (CFTC).
  • Topics: overnight trading, tokenization, infrastructure, staffing, and operational readiness (CFTC).
  • Builds on a Request for Comment issued earlier in summer 2026 on 24/7 trading (CFTC).
  • Quote: Chairman Selig said the agency "will not take a one-size-fits-all approach to 24/7 trading" (CFTC).

The real-world read This is an announcement of a meeting, not a rule, a timeline, or a commitment — no agenda, speakers, or registration process exist yet, and the CFTC says those will come "at a later date." The emphasis on "operational readiness" and "staffing needs" signals the agency knows the hard part isn't demand but whether clearinghouses, surveillance, and settlement can run through weekends and holidays without a human on the other end. Selig's "not one-size-fits-all" line reads as deliberate hedging that keeps every option open, including doing little. Worth noting: the roundtable is stacked with "industry" participants, who have an obvious interest in the longer hours they'd be commenting on; that is the point of soliciting views, but their input is advocacy, not neutral analysis. There is no indication here of a vote, a proposed rule, or a date by which the CFTC would act.

This is news coverage, not financial or legal advice.

Sources

  • CFTC, Press Release 9318-26, "CFTC to Host Roundtable on 24/7 Trading," October 28, 2026 — primary source for the date, topics, logistics, and the Chairman Selig quote. Official government announcement; not marketing.