The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced a public roundtable set for September 17 to explore the possibility of 24-hour trading in U.S. equity markets.
The event will be held at the SEC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters and streamed online. Details about the agenda and speakers will be shared soon.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins emphasized the shift toward continuous trading, noting it could align U.S. markets with others already operating around the clock.
Currently, U.S. stocks trade mainly between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Time, with some premarket and after-hours sessions available. However, the full equity market does not yet function as a cohesive 24-hour system.
SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets highlighted that expanding trading hours involves upgrades to infrastructure, including market data, clearing, corporate actions, trade reporting, and investor protections.
Consolidated market data systems would need to run longer to support around-the-clock trading, while clearing firms must handle transactions and risks beyond traditional hours. Brokers would also face increased demands to monitor orders and provide customer support during extended periods.
Exchanges like Nasdaq and Cboe are preparing to offer longer weekday trading sessions, pending regulatory approval and readiness. Nasdaq aims to launch 24-hour trading five days a week in the second half of 2026.
Global investors could benefit from easier access to U.S. stocks during extended hours, a move influenced by the continuous trading model common in crypto markets. However, tokenized stocks remain distinct from those listed on traditional exchanges.
