Nasdaq is going 24/5 in 2026, and brokers are getting ready

The financial trading markets are set for a dramatic change after Nasdaq’s president announced the plan to extend the working hours to 24 hours, five days a week.

The initiative still needs to pass prolonged regulatory, infrastructure, and technological considerations before entering into effect. However, if things go as expected, the plan might see light starting in the second half of 2026.

This move aims to respond to the growing global demand for US equities. However, as a broker, this development will offer you opportunities and challenges, necessitating a proactive approach to adapt and thrive in this new trading environment.​

NASDAQ Switching to 24 Hours Trading Days

On March 7th, the president of Nasdaq, Tal Cohen, in a LinkedIn post, announced that 24-hour trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange will come soon. Cohen proceeded to explain the motives behind this move and the challenges they need to overcome before making it a reality.

The exchange has initiated discussions with regulators and expects to launch this extended trading schedule in the latter half of 2026. This shift aligns with trading trends, which have seen a notable increase in trading activities outside traditional market hours, known as after-hours trading.

By extending trading hours, Nasdaq aims to attract investors across various time zones, potentially increasing trading volumes and enhancing market liquidity. However, this transition requires careful coordination with industry infrastructure providers and regulatory bodies to ensure a seamless implementation.

One major challenge is aligning with every stakeholder involved in this extension. For example, large corporations prefer spreading crucial updates like earnings and mergers outside the official trading hours to avoid massive price swings. However, companies will lose this privilege by extending Nasdaq working hours.

Additionally, significant technological preparations must be made to ensure that trading systems, execution engines, and real-time newsfeed providers meet the increasing demands and activity window.

 Who Will Benefit?

An obvious winner from this decision is the exchange itself, which earns from commissions and trading fees. Extending the working hours means more service fees and returns to Nasdaq.

Additionally, the move to 24-hour trading will benefit a broad spectrum of market participants, including overseas traders, brokerage firms, hedge funds, and asset management firms. 

Investors from Asia-Pacific will gain the flexibility to engage with US markets during their local hours, eliminating the constraints of traditional trading schedules.

This accessibility can lead to increased participation from international investors, enhancing liquidity and potentially reducing volatility. Retail traders will seize this opportunity to react promptly to global events with the advantage of extended hours.

For brokers, this presents an opportunity to expand services and cater to a more diverse clientele, requiring them to adapt their systems and strategies to accommodate the growing trading needs.

Getting Brokers Ready with Tier-1 Liquidity

As trading hours extend, brokers must ensure they provide seamless execution and robust liquidity to meet client demands. Partnering with a leading liquidity provider that offers access to Tier-1 sources will become increasingly important.

Such connections enable brokers to handle increased trading volumes and provide competitive pricing to the increasing traders’ inflow, even during traditionally non-working hours.

Brokers should invest in technology infrastructure that supports high-frequency trading and real-time risk management to maintain operational efficiency and client satisfaction in a 24/5 trading setting.

B2BROKER’s Liquidity Solutions

B2BROKER is a global liquidity and fintech solutions provider, catering to the evolving needs of brokers and continuously updating their products to match user preferences.

After the 24/5 trading setting switch, you will need even better access to a deep liquidity pool across multiple asset classes, and B2BROKER ensures that brokers can deliver optimal trading conditions to their clients.

With a low-latency delay engine, robust trading infrastructure, and seamless integration tools, B2BROKER will prepare you to scale your operations more efficiently.

Moreover, the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and customer support positions it as a reliable partner for brokers aiming to adapt to extended trading hours.

High US Stocks Liquidity

The US equities liquidity is expected to surge as soon as Nasdaq switches to 24/5 operation mode. Therefore, you must secure access to top American stocks, including blue-chip companies, fast-growing shares, and those focusing on stability.

B2BROKER provides uninterrupted access to trading stocks as CFDs, as a faster way to own stocks of Apple, Google, Meta, General Electric, Coca-Cola, JPMorgan, and 50+ US stocks from various industries.

Final Thoughts

After announcing its decision to shift to 24/5 trading hours, Nasdaq is set to stir a drastic change in financial markets. This move responds to the rising market needs and extends the trading activity time.

Brokers must proactively adapt to this change by enhancing liquidity partnerships and technological infrastructure to meet the demands of a continuously operating market. Finding a solid liquidity provider, such as B2BROKER, will put you on the right track amidst the striking market expectations.