The London Stock Exchange is chasing crypto's always-on market

LSE 24: A New Overnight Venue to Rival Crypto's Round-the-Clock Access

The London Stock Exchange (@LSEplc) is launching a near-continuous overnight trading venue called LSE 24, targeting the first half of 2027. The new exchange will operate from 5pm to 7:50am London time, with a 30-minute pause between 6:30pm and 7pm for end-of-day processing. LSE 24 will operate separately from the main market and will initially offer access to exchange-traded products such as funds tracking the UK or US stock market.

LSE 24 will give "global investors greater flexibility to respond to market events, access liquidity across time zones and manage risk," the company said in a statement. Client testing is expected to wrap by the end of 2026, with equities flagged as a possible later addition. The main market will continue to operate under its standard hours of 8am to 4:30pm. LSE 24 runs alongside the existing session rather than replacing it.

A Wider Industry Shift Driven by Crypto's Always-On Standard

The project places the LSE within a wider shift toward longer market access as crypto platforms continue operating around the clock. Retail investors, especially from Asia, have been seeking continuous access to financial markets, just as in the case of cryptocurrencies. The LSE is far from alone in this pursuit. Nasdaq aims to introduce 23-hour weekday trading, subject to regulatory approval, while Cboe plans to offer 23-hour access on its EDGX Equities Exchange.

The SEC has already cleared extended-hours trading on the 24X National Exchange. Meanwhile, CME has already started continuous trading for selected cryptocurrency futures and options, extending access beyond traditional market hours.

Retail demand remains a main driver behind these changes, with customers wanting to trade after breaking news and outside their local business hours, while institutional investors have shown less consistent demand for extended sessions. Some market groups have warned that longer hours may not suit every product, especially when overnight liquidity is limited.

Sources:
RTE News: London Stock Exchange to launch round-the-clock trading
Reuters via MarketScreener: London Stock Exchange plans to launch round-the-clock trading
CoinPaper: Will London Stock Exchange's New 24-Hour Trading Push Rival Crypto Markets?