B3 extends trading hours for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and gold futures

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: B3 extends trading hours for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and gold futures Original Link: The Brazilian Stock Exchange, B3, announced that it will extend the trading hours for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and gold futures contracts, in a move aimed at bringing the local market closer to the global dynamics of these assets.

The implementation will occur in two phases throughout 2026, starting on March 9, when trading will begin at 8:00 AM and extend until 6:30 PM. From April 20, the window will be expanded again, closing at 8:00 PM, establishing a daily trading period of 12 hours, Monday through Friday, including contract rollovers.

With the second phase, B3 will also update the timing of the financial derivatives allocation window to 8:30 PM, covering all derivatives contracts traded on the exchange. According to the institution, investor participation and liquidity behavior in these new windows will be closely monitored, and the data will serve as a basis to evaluate potential future expansions to other asset classes.

The decision reflects a growing demand for operational flexibility, especially in markets like cryptocurrencies, whose prices are formed 24 hours a day, seven days a week on international platforms.

For Luiz Masagão, Vice President of Products and Clients at B3, extending the hours caters to investors who want to operate in a regulated environment but outside traditional trading hours.

“By opening the window earlier and closing later, B3 allows investors to adjust their positions over a longer period during the day, supported by the robustness of our infrastructure, with the regulatory security and price transparency that a regulated and supervised market provides,” he stated.

According to him, the goal is to democratize access to these assets, ensuring clear rules, governance, and central counterparty operations.

The futures contracts for cryptocurrencies and gold traded on B3 were structured to offer operational efficiency and low initial value, with each contract representing only a fraction of the reference asset. This format allows exposure to price variations without the need for direct purchase or physical custody, in the case of gold, or management of private keys, in the case of cryptocurrencies.

Settlement is exclusively financial and based on global indices, reducing operational risks and simplifying access for both institutional and retail investors. Additionally, the futures market enables hedging and leverage strategies, expanding the range of uses for these instruments in diversified portfolios.

To facilitate the extension of trading hours, B3 made adjustments to its reporting processes. After the extended session closes at 8:00 PM, the exchange will publish supplementary versions of the Business Bulletin and the Simplified Derivatives Market Trading Bulletin, with updated final statistics specifically for cryptocurrency and gold futures. Information regarding other products will continue to be published at usual times.