SEC Signals Paradigm Shift: The Dawn of 24-Hour Equity Trading

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is poised to dismantle the traditional boundaries of equity markets, moving toward a continuous trading model that mirrors the digital asset revolution.

Bridging the Gap Between TradFi and Crypto

SEC Chair Paul Atkins announced a public roundtable scheduled for September 17 in Washington, DC, to explore the operational and resiliency requirements of a 24-hour US equity market. The initiative aims to align US equity markets with global markets that already operate on a continuous basis.

The Global Race for Round-the-Clock Liquidity

Major global exchanges are aggressively pivoting toward near-24-hour trading models to provide retail and institutional investors with uninterrupted market access:

■Nasdaq has begun engaging with US regulators to potentially launch 24/5 trading by the second half of 2026.

■The London Stock Exchange is reportedly planning to launch a dedicated nighttime trading venue in early 2027.

■Cboe and other major exchange operators are part of a broader trend to match the accessibility long offered by cryptocurrency exchanges.

The convergence of equity markets with the 24/7 nature of cryptocurrency exchanges marks a structural evolution in global finance. As traditional markets adopt the liquidity profiles of digital assets, we will see a fundamental realignment of risk management and capital flow patterns across all asset classes.