The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will hold a public roundtable on September 17, 2026, to discuss preparations for 24-hour trading in U.S. equity markets, as exchanges consider expanding overnight access and moving traditional markets closer to the continuous trading model used in crypto.

The meeting, scheduled to take place at the SEC's Washington headquarters, will examine how U.S. exchanges could support overnight trading, strengthen market operations, and address technical and security issues associated with keeping markets open for much longer periods. The SEC announced the roundtable in an official release: SEC Announces Roundtable on Preparations for 24-Hour Trading.

SEC to Host Roundtable on Preparations for 24-Hour Trading in U.S. Equities U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced it will host a public roundtable on September 17, 2026, at its Washington headquarters to discuss moving towards 24-hour trading in the U.S. equity… pic.twitter.com/6nUOe0RRwS — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 23, 2026

SEC Opens Discussion on Overnight Equity Trading

The SEC said the September 17 roundtable will focus on the future of 24-hour trading in U.S. stock markets and the practical steps needed to prepare the national market system for expanded hours. Topics are expected to include exchange readiness, operational resilience, market structure considerations, and safeguards for investors during overnight sessions.

SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins described the discussion as part of a shift in how U.S. equity markets may operate.

"We are moving towards a new day – and night – in the U.S. equity markets."

Atkins also said the agency wants to consider longer trading hours while maintaining investor protection.

"With the expansion to overnight trading, I'm excited at the prospect of U.S. equity markets aligning with those markets that already trade continuously while protecting investors."

The push for extended hours comes as retail trading platforms have already begun offering overnight access to U.S. equities. Robinhood launched its 24/5 market in 2023, allowing customers to trade major stocks five days a week outside traditional exchange hours, signaling growing investor demand for around-the-clock access.

Crypto's Continuous Trading Model Adds Pressure

Regular U.S. stock market trading hours currently run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Crypto markets, by contrast, trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the expansion of digital asset trading has increased attention on whether traditional equity markets should offer broader access outside the standard session.

The SEC said longer trading hours could help U.S. markets serve investors across different time zones and remain aligned with markets that already trade continuously. The agency's review comes as several major trading venues are already preparing proposals or systems for extended stock-market hours.

24 Exchange, also known as 24X, is moving toward launching 23-hour weekday trading after receiving initial SEC approvals. The New York Stock Exchange has proposed extending trading to 22 hours each weekday. Nasdaq has also filed plans to offer 23-hour weekday trading, with a possible launch later in 2026.

Together, those proposals show that several of the largest U.S. trading platforms are preparing for a market structure in which equities may be available for much longer portions of the day. A key challenge regulators and exchanges will need to address is liquidity: overnight sessions typically see lower trading volume, which can lead to wider bid-ask spreads and greater price volatility compared to regular-hours trading.

Public Comments Invited Before the Meeting

The SEC is also requesting public feedback before the roundtable. Members of the public may submit comments online or by mail, and the agency said all submitted feedback will be published on the SEC's website.

If regulators approve expanded trading hours, investors would be able to respond to breaking news, global events, and company earnings outside the traditional trading day instead of waiting for the next market open. The September roundtable is intended to help regulators, exchanges, and market participants evaluate how that shift could be implemented while addressing operational and investor-protection concerns.