The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is scheduled to hold a public roundtable meeting on September 17 to discuss how the U.S. stock market can move towards overnight trading and assess conditions for near-24/7 trading. This suggests that the U.S. stock trading system may be moving further toward a 24/7 model similar to that of the cryptocurrency market.

The meeting focused on overnight trading arrangements.

The SEC stated that the meeting will focus on how exchanges can support longer trading hours, with a focus on issues including market operations, technology systems, and security. SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins said that the U.S. stock market is entering a new phase, and regulators want to maintain investor protection while extending trading hours.

Several exchanges have submitted proposals.

Currently, regular trading hours for US stocks remain from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. However, many platforms have begun preparing for longer trading hours, and market infrastructure is being adjusted accordingly.

• 24 Exchange (24X) is working on implementing a 23-hour trading schedule on weekdays.
• The New York Stock Exchange has proposed extending weekday trading hours to 22 hours.
• Nasdaq has submitted its 23-hour trading plan for business days.

These developments indicate that extending trading hours is no longer just a conceptual discussion, but has entered the stage of specific application and preparation.

The crypto market provides a reference.

The SEC noted that investor demand for more flexible trading hours is rising, especially given the ongoing nature of trading across different time zones globally. The 24/7 operation of the crypto asset market also makes market participants more accustomed to reacting to news, earnings reports, and breaking events at any time.

If the relevant plan is ultimately approved, investors will no longer have to wait until the market opens the next day to deal with major news, and the difference in trading hours between the US stock market and the cryptocurrency market may be further narrowed.