Nasdaq has filed a proposal to expand trading hours to 23 hours a day, five days a week, responding to growing investor demand for near round-the-clock market access.
The move reflects changing expectations shaped by the 24/7 nature of cryptocurrency markets and the increasingly global behaviour of investors.
According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Nasdaq plans to extend trading for stocks and exchange-traded products beyond current limits.
Under the proposal, daily trading would run from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by a one-hour break and a night session from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. the next day.
The trading week would begin on Sunday at 9 p.m. and conclude on Friday at 8 p.m., while the traditional opening and closing bells would remain unchanged.
Nasdaq said the change would make U.S.-listed stocks more accessible to investors across multiple time zones.
Many major crypto-linked companies trade on Nasdaq, including Coinbase, Robinhood and Strategy, alongside several bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) mining firms.
The exchange noted that although overnight trading volumes are currently lower, interest has been rising steadily.
“Nasdaq has observed a growing interest in trading during overnight hours, particularly among investors located in Asia and other foreign jurisdictions,” the exchange said.
Nasdaq acknowledged that many clients already trade overnight through other platforms that offer broader access.
The filing pointed to increased use of platforms that support continuous trading in digital assets, tokenised assets and tokenised securities.
“Investors are increasingly utilising trading platforms that provide access to markets on a 24/7 basis,” Nasdaq said.
The proposal follows similar initiatives by the New York Stock Exchange, which has already received regulatory approval to expand after-hours trading.
Nasdaq executive Giang Bui previously said extended hours are “where the markets are moving,” signalling a long-term strategic shift.
Trades executed late at night would be recorded for the following calendar day under the new structure.
Nasdaq said the proposal would help it compete for order flow from globally active investors.
“Nasdaq submits its proposal to extend its trading hours to compete for order flow and to position itself favourably for digital asset markets,” the exchange said.
Reuters first reported Nasdaq’s intention to pursue extended trading hours.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $86,365.04.