Crypto
Bitcoin
The largest cryptocurrency by market value; trades 24/7 and is increasingly sensitive to macro conditions.
Bitcoin chart
- Crypto spot
- Intraday · may be delayed
- BITSTAMP:BTCUSD
Spot BTC/USD from the Bitstamp exchange. Prices differ slightly between exchanges, and the volume shown is Bitstamp's alone.
About the Bitcoin
CME BTC/MBT and ETH/MET futures use the 24/7 Globex schedule introduced in May 2026, except scheduled maintenance. Source: CME Group trading hours (cmegroup.com/trading-hours.html), checked October 10, 2026. Spot-Quoted futures are excluded from this schedule.
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital asset with a fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins. New issuance halves roughly every four years; the most recent halving took place in April 2024.
Spot bitcoin trades continuously on crypto exchanges, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Regulated exposure is also available through CME futures and, since January 2024, US spot bitcoin ETFs.
Bitcoin has at times traded in line with growth-sensitive equities and global liquidity conditions, which is why many traders now watch Fed decisions and inflation data alongside crypto-specific news.
What moves Bitcoin
Common drivers. None of them determine price on their own.
- Liquidity and rates
- Expectations for Fed policy and broader financial conditions have influenced bitcoin, particularly during major rate cycles.
- ETF and institutional flows
- Creations and redemptions in spot ETFs can reflect shifts in institutional demand.
- Regulation
- Rule-making and enforcement actions in major jurisdictions can move prices sharply.
- Leverage
- Perpetual-futures funding and liquidations can amplify moves, especially on weekends when liquidity is thinner.
Bitcoin trading hours
Regular schedules in US Eastern time unless noted. Holidays and early closes are not shown.
| Venue | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spot crypto exchanges | 24/7 | — |
| CME Bitcoin / Micro Bitcoin (BTC, MBT; Globex) | 24/7, except scheduled Saturday maintenance 2:00–4:00 a.m. Central Time; check CME for changes | — |
| US spot bitcoin ETFs | Mon–Fri 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET (plus extended hours) | — |
Economic events that matter for Bitcoin
Why each release can move this market. Reactions depend on the surprise versus expectations and on the backdrop.
| Event | Why it can matter for Bitcoin |
|---|---|
| FOMC Next: | Bitcoin has at times traded like a liquidity-sensitive risk asset, reacting to shifts in expected policy rates and financial conditions around Fed decisions. That relationship has been inconsistent over time. |
| CPI Next: | Inflation data has tended to move bitcoin through what it implies for Fed policy and the dollar rather than through the 'inflation hedge' narrative; reactions have varied considerably. |
Also scheduled: Crypto-specific news — ETF flows, regulation, exchange events — frequently outweighs US macro data.
Bitcoin FAQ
Does bitcoin trade on weekends?
Yes. Spot bitcoin trades 24/7 on crypto exchanges. CME BTC and MBT futures also trade through weekends, except scheduled maintenance (currently Saturday 2:00–4:00 a.m. CT). US ETFs follow stock-market hours. Prices can gap during maintenance or outages; the former regular weekend CME closure no longer applies.
Why does bitcoin react to CPI and the Fed?
Bitcoin has at times behaved like a high-beta risk asset, sensitive to liquidity and rate expectations. That relationship has varied considerably and is not a fixed rule.