The SEC is exploring how to enable nearly 24-hour stock trading, moving beyond the current 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET regular session, according to reporting in July 2026. The initiative would require upgrades to market infrastructure, surveillance systems, and trading platforms to handle extended volume and volatility.
SEC Explores 23-Hour Stock Trading—Market Makers and Tech Platforms Get New Revenue
Extended trading hours pilot could reshape market structure and lift demand for after-hours trading infrastructure.

Nearly 24-hour trading means market makers and exchanges collect fees around the clock—retail investors get wider spreads.
Winners include market-making firms, electronic communication networks (ECNs), and trading technology providers. Nasdaq (NDAQ) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) operate the two largest U.S. stock exchanges and would benefit from extended trading volume and associated fees. Citadel Securities, Virtu Financial (VIRT), and other high-frequency trading firms would gain from longer trading windows and tighter spreads. Technology vendors providing market surveillance, order management, and risk systems—such as those in the portfolios of Broadridge Financial Solutions (BR) and SS&C Technologies (SSNC)—will see demand for system upgrades and new deployments.
Retail brokers and market participants face operational complexity. Extended hours mean higher staffing costs, more sophisticated risk management, and potential for increased volatility during lower-liquidity periods. Retail investors may face wider spreads and less predictable execution during off-peak hours.
Watch for SEC formal rulemaking on extended hours in Q4 2026 or Q1 2027. Track Nasdaq and ICE earnings for guidance on infrastructure investment and fee structure changes. Monitor Virtu and Citadel Securities for commentary on market-making economics under extended hours.
Source: original report ↗
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