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:

Brazil’s B3 Exchange Extends Cryptocurrency Asset Trading Hours

Brazil’s B3 Exchange announced that it will extend trading hours for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and gold futures contracts. This move aims to bring the local market closer to the global trading dynamics of these assets.

The implementation will occur in two phases in 2026. The first phase begins on March 9, with trading hours from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Starting April 20, the second phase will further extend the trading window to 8:00 PM, creating a 12-hour continuous trading period each trading day (Monday to Friday), including contract rollovers.

In the second phase, B3 will also update the derivative allocation window to 8:30 PM, covering all derivative contracts traded on the exchange. The organization stated that it will closely monitor investor participation and the liquidity performance of these new trading windows. This data will be used to evaluate whether to expand to other asset classes in the future.

This decision reflects ongoing market demand for operational flexibility, especially in the cryptocurrency market, where prices are formed 24/7 on international platforms.

Luiz Masagão, Vice President of B3 Products and Clients, said that extending trading hours meets the needs of investors who want to operate within a regulated environment but are not limited by traditional working hours.

“By opening earlier and closing later, B3 enables investors to adjust positions over a longer daytime period while benefiting from the robustness of our infrastructure, regulatory security, and the transparency provided by an organized, supervised market,” he stated.

According to him, the goal is to democratize access to these assets while ensuring clear rules, governance, and central counterparty clearing in trading.

Crypto assets and gold futures contracts traded on B3 are designed to offer operational efficiency and low initial costs, with each contract representing only a small portion of the reference asset. This format allows investors to gain price exposure without directly purchasing the underlying asset or, in the case of gold, physically storing it, or managing private keys in the case of cryptocurrencies.

Settlement is entirely financial, based on global indices, reducing operational risk and simplifying access for institutional and retail investors. Additionally, futures markets support hedging and leverage strategies, expanding the application of these tools in diversified portfolios.

To facilitate the extended trading hours, B3 has adjusted its reporting process. After the extended trading hours end at 8:00 PM, the exchange will release supplementary versions of the “Business Announcement” and “Derivative Market Simplified Trading Announcement,” specifically targeting the latest statistics for crypto assets and gold futures. Information on other products will continue to be published as usual.