The Nasdaq stock exchange is set to expand its trading hours, offering round-the-clock trading five days a week. This change is anticipated to roll out in the latter half of 2026, pending regulatory approval.
In a statement on March 7, Nasdaq president Tal Cohen highlighted the increasing global demand for Nasdaq-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and U.S. equities as the driving force behind the decision. Cohen stated:
“Over the past five years, 56 new exchange-traded products have been introduced, tracking the Nasdaq-100 Index. Notably, 98% of these were launched outside the United States.”
He further pointed out that as of June 2024, foreign ownership of U.S. equities had surged to $17 trillion—a 97% rise since 2019.
Despite the advantages, Cohen acknowledged concerns from corporate issuers regarding liquidity and corporate actions in a 24-hour trading environment. He emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with market stability.
Nasdaq’s decision comes in the wake of multiple applications for cryptocurrency ETFs and growing interest from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in implementing 24/7 stock trading.
Nasdaq Expands Crypto ETF Offerings
Swedish digital asset manager Virtune launched two cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange on February 5, providing investors with exposure to Avalanche (AVAX) and Cardano (ADA). Notably, Virtune’s staked Cardano ETP offers an additional 2% yield on top of its 1:1 backing with ADA.
Nasdaq also filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 21 to list the Canary HBAR ETF, which is fully backed by Hedera’s native token, HBAR. Additionally, on February 24, the exchange submitted an application to list the Grayscale Polkadot ETF, offering exposure to Polkadot’s native asset, DOT.
All cryptocurrency ETF applications remain subject to SEC approval before trading can commence.
The surge in crypto ETF filings coincides with a regulatory shift following Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, suggesting a more favorable environment for digital asset firms and institutional investors seeking exposure to cryptocurrencies.
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