The upcoming launch of the 24X National Exchange has the potential to significantly reshape the landscape of U.S. financial markets. This exchange, having secured approval from the SEC in 2024, is designed to facilitate almost continuous trading, prompting major players like Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to consider extending their own trading sessions.
Advocates of 24-hour trading often point to its alignment with the needs of today’s investors who are accustomed to always-on connectivity. This is especially relevant for those trading international stocks, where the operating hours of foreign markets may not coincide with standard U.S. trading hours. The availability of round-the-clock trading opportunities throughout the week—an offering already provided by some brokerage firms—presents both advantages and potential challenges for market participants.
To effectively navigate a 24-hour trading environment, traders will need to familiarize themselves with the systems and platforms that support this model. Furthermore, they should focus on specific stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), digital currencies, and other assets expected to experience increased activity during these extended hours.
Key Takeaways
- The expansion of trading hours to a 24-hour model is gaining traction thanks to exchanges like 24X and longer sessions at the NYSE and Nasdaq.
- Extended trading sessions bring increased risk alongside new potential rewards.
- Stocks with high trading volume, particularly those in the tech sector and companies with a substantial international presence, should be monitored.
- While the selection is limited, some ETFs are available for 24-hour trading, including well-known funds and leveraged products tied to major stocks.
- Cryptocurrencies are, generally, already traded around the clock.
Trading in 24-hour Markets
Even before the announcement of the 24X launch, platforms existed to help global investors tap into U.S. markets beyond the traditional 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET hours offered by Nasdaq and NYSE. One example is the Blue Ocean Alternative Trading System (BOATS). BOATS enables trading in U.S. equities from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. ET, five days a week, providing up-to-the-minute price information, real-time quotes, and uninterrupted market access.
Trading outside of regular hours can occur using electronic communication networks (ECNs)—systems that connect buy and sell orders without the involvement of conventional exchanges. While ECNs can streamline trading beyond standard market hours, they also come with caveats, including fees and commissions.
Tip
Several brokers currently offer 24-hour or near 24-hour trading. Notable examples include Charles Schwab, Interactive Brokers, Webull, and others.
The availability of securities in 24-hour trading may not mirror what is offered during regular market hours. However, many brokerages do provide access to a range of financial instruments, such as stocks and ETFs, for overnight trading. Stocks featured in the S&P 500, the Nasdaq 100, and the Dow 30 are generally accessible, alongside hundreds of popular ETFs. Specialized markets, including cryptocurrencies and forex, also offer either continuous or extended trading schedules.
Top Stocks To Watch in 24-Hour Markets
A primary concern among investors engaging in overnight trading is the potential for low trading volumes, which could lead to unfavorable liquidity and spreads for individual traders. To mitigate this, focusing on stocks that consistently exhibit high activity and interest during standard trading hours is advisable. This includes leading technology companies such as Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), Apple Inc. (AAPL), and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT).
Another key category of stocks for 24-hour trading involves companies prone to overnight news developments. Those with substantial international business operations are particularly noteworthy – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) serves as a prime example.
Finally, certain companies are likely to maintain consistent investor interest due to their prominence in U.S. news cycles. As of June 2025, steel industry players responding to developments regarding a major collaboration with Japan’s Nippon Steel fit this description. Similarly, data analytics provider Palantir Technologies (PLTR) is a strong candidate in mid-2025. Investors should monitor which firms are generating headlines when considering 24-hour trading strategies.
Top ETFs To Watch in 24-Hour Markets
Some brokers, such as Robinhood, enable investors to place limit orders for whole shares of popular ETFs on a 24/5 basis, from Sunday evening through Friday evening each week. Investors can expect to find a large selection of frequently traded ETFs available through this channel, though specialized and less common funds might have limited access.
The brokerage Webull provides a variety of ETFs for overnight trading, including popular equity ETFs like Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and bond funds such as the Direxion Daily 20+ Year Treasury Bull 3X ETF (TMF).
Other ETFs of interest in 24-hour markets include those that are susceptible to off-hour news events, like cryptocurrency funds such as the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) or the ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO). Finally, traders with a high-risk tolerance may want to keep track of funds providing leveraged exposure to blue-chip stocks, including the Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X Shares ETF (TSLL), which offers 2x exposure to Tesla (TSLA).
Top Crypto Assets To Watch in 24-Hour Markets
Digital currencies can already be traded around the clock through specialized cryptocurrency exchanges. Thus, the extension of 24-hour crypto trading to traditional brokerages is not anticipated to drastically impact the digital currency space. However, shifts in liquidity and pricing may correlate with different times of day.
The most important crypto assets in 24-hour markets include the leading cryptocurrencies by trading volume and market capitalization. As of June 24, 2025, the largest cryptocurrencies by market value are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, XRP, and BNB, while the most actively traded coins (by 24-hour volume) are Tether, Bitcoin, Dai, Ethereum, and USDC.
As with leading stocks, investors should closely monitor the cryptocurrency world to identify trends stemming from recent news or trading activity when analyzing 24-hour markets.
Note
Be aware that traditional brokerage platforms may offer a smaller range of digital currencies than dedicated crypto exchanges that already provide round-the-clock trading services.
What Brokers Are Best for 24-Hour Trading?
The ideal broker will vary from investor to investor; however, popular platforms for 24-hour trading include Charles Schwab, Robinhood, Interactive Brokers, and Webull.
What Are the Risks Associated With 24-Hour Trading?
Some potential downsides of 24-hour trading include reduced liquidity and increased price volatility during periods of lower activity.
What Are the Benefits of 24-Hour Trading?
24-hour trading provides investors with opportunities to react to breaking news in real-time. It also enables individuals located outside the United States to participate in the market at more convenient times. Moreover, it can potentially minimize price gaps that may occur between traditional trading sessions.
Who Should Trade in the 24-Hour Market?
Individual investors should acknowledge that trading in extended hours is generally dominated by institutional traders, which can create heightened risk. Still, the growth of 24-hour trading may alter this dynamic. Those who have schedules that make traditional market hours difficult to access, and those outside the U.S. looking to easily access the US markets are likely to see advantages to the new trading schedule.
How Will the Adoption of 24-Hour Trading Affect My Portfolio?
The effect of 24-hour trading on portfolios will vary. Investors could be inclined to trade more often with continuous market access, potentially eroding returns due to transaction costs.
The Bottom Line
A clear movement towards extended trading hours is underway in U.S. markets. Emerging exchanges like 24X are targeting around-the-clock trading availability during the week, prompting established exchanges like Nasdaq and the NYSE to expand their own trading hours. This shift means that many investors will need to adjust to new schedules and be aware of the associated risks and benefits.
Investors interested in 24-hour trading may want to begin with popular stocks, ETFs, and digital currencies, as these are more likely to maintain liquidity and experience limited price disruptions at all hours.