NEWS / Economy
CFTC Blocks CME’s Round-the-Clock Oil Futures
Kalbir Talwar
Published Jul 11, 2026
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Summary:
- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission blocked CME Group from using an expedited self-certification process for around-the-clock oil futures.
- CME’s stock rose 1.45% to $239.54, while crude oil was up 1.92% at $72.11 per barrel.
- CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said the exchange disregarded an ongoing review of round-the-clock trading, calling its move “wholly inappropriate.”
The Block
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said the decision to stop the fast-track move was necessary. “As I’ve said repeatedly, we do not take a one-size-fits-all approach to 24/7 trading,” Selig stated. Selig also said the CFTC “encourages exchanges to work with agency staff to address potential legal issues before seeking to list novel contracts.” CME had planned to start trading the smaller-sized 10 Barrel crude oil futures contract as soon as Friday.
CME stated that its typical practice is to self-certify products that are essentially scaled-down editions of existing contracts operating on a continuous schedule. A CME spokesperson explained, “For contracts such as 10 Barrel crude oil, which is a smaller version of an existing product but available 24/7, we would typically self-certify.”
Why It Matters
Cryptocurrency exchanges operating outside the US, like Hyperliquid, provide synthetic oil futures that are traded as perpetual contracts. In June, CME announced plans to introduce smaller oil contracts available around the clock. The battle over trading hours also involves a separate fight with Kalshi Inc., a private prediction-market exchange that offers 24/7 cryptocurrency perpetuals.
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CME sued the CFTC over allowing those products. Terry Duffy, CME’s chief executive, said that Kalshi’s perpetuals “should be treated as swaps rather than futures contracts.” Duffy also announced he will step down as CEO next year.
A separate CME submission for 24/7 oil contracts remains under CFTC review; that filing uses a standard procedure that grants the agency more time to decide on approval.
This dispute over trading hours comes as traditional exchanges face increasing competition from decentralized platforms that operate continuously. CME’s 24/7 gold futures, self-certified on July 2, 2026, are still on track to launch later this month, highlighting the regulatory difference between metals and oil contracts.
What to Watch
Background Context
The CFTC’s intervention marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tug-of-war between traditional commodity exchanges and their regulator over trading schedules. CME’s push for 24/7 oil contracts is part of a broader strategy to retain market share against offshore crypto platforms that never close. The approval of CME’s 24/7 gold futures earlier this year set a precedent for metals, but oil remains more contentious due to its physical delivery requirements and global pricing benchmarks.
The 10 Barrel contract, at one-tenth the size of the standard 1,000-barrel futures, is designed to attract smaller traders and retail investors who increasingly expect round-the-clock access, similar to what they get with cryptocurrencies. By blocking the fast-track route, the CFTC is signaling its desire to carefully vet the systemic risks – such as liquidity fragmentation and market manipulation – that continuous trading could introduce to the physical crude market.
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