The U.S. stock market may soon never sleep. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a major roundtable to prepare U.S. stock markets for 24-hour trading. The Sept. 17 meeting will explore how exchanges can support overnight trading.
This move could transform Wall Street and bring traditional stocks closer to crypto’s 24/7 trading model.
SEC Begins Talks on 24-Hour Stock Trading
The SEC has announced it will hold a public roundtable on Sept. 17, 2026, to discuss the future of 24-hour trading in U.S. stock markets.
The meeting will focus on how exchanges can prepare for overnight trading, improve market operations, and handle the technical and security challenges that come with running markets almost around the clock.
SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins said the agency is entering a new phase for U.S. markets.
“We are moving towards a new day – and night – in the U.S. equity markets.”
He added that the SEC wants to balance longer trading hours with strong investor protection.
“With the expansion to overnight trading, I’m excited at the prospect of U.S. equity markets aligning with those markets that already trade continuously while protecting investors.”
Crypto’s 24/7 Model Is Driving the Change
Today, the U.S. stock market only operates between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET. However, investors now expect markets to be available almost anytime, especially after seeing crypto markets trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The SEC believes longer trading hours could help U.S. markets stay competitive with global investors who trade across different time zones.
Several exchanges are already preparing for this shift.
- 24 Exchange (24X) is moving closer to launching 23-hour weekday trading after receiving initial SEC approvals.
- The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has proposed extending trading to 22 hours each weekday.
- Nasdaq has also filed plans to offer 23-hour weekday trading, with a possible launch later in 2026.
These proposals show that many of the country’s biggest trading platforms are already preparing for extended market hours.
SEC Seeks Public Feedback on 24-Hour Trading
The SEC is also asking the public to share their views before the meeting. Anyone can send comments online or by mail, and all feedback will be published on the SEC’s website.
If approved, 24-hour trading would let investors react to breaking news, global events, and company earnings at any time instead of waiting for the market to open the next day.
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