Is 24/7 trading the future, or a burnout risk waiting to happen?

By Yolanda Tree – Content Writer | Trader | Fintech Commentator

When the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) announced its exploration of 24-hour equity trading, it signaled a broader rethink of how global markets operate. With U.S. giants like NYSE, Nasdaq, and Cboe already extending trading hours, London, one of the world’s oldest financial hubs, is considering the same.

For fintechs, brokers, and retail traders, this could usher in a new chapter. But before we welcome always-on markets, it’s worth asking: Is 24/7 trading the next great leap for accessibility and innovation, or the beginning of a burnout spiral no one’s ready for?

How Crypto Changed the Game

Let’s be honest, crypto changed expectations.

Digital assets trade 24/7, and that nonstop access has shaped a generation of traders who now expect the same from traditional markets. The idea of waiting for the bell at 9:30 a.m. feels almost quaint when you’re used to reacting instantly to headlines from anywhere in the world.

While major exchanges are open for 6 to 8.5 hours a day, traders in regions such as Asia or Africa often find themselves trading at unusual local times. As demand for more flexible access grows, traditional exchanges are under pressure to respond.

The Opportunity: Innovation, Reach, and Real-Time Access

The potential benefits of 24-hour trading are undeniably promising:

• Global Participation: Investors could access markets on their own schedule, no matter the time zone.

• New Product Development: Fintechs have an opening to create tools tailored to low-liquidity hours and unique volatility patterns.

• Improved Liquidity (Over Time): While early adoption may be thin, extended sessions could eventually deepen market activity.

• Smarter Automation: Continuous markets allow AI-driven trading strategies to operate uninterrupted, reducing reliance on manual execution.

For brokers, this presents an opportunity to stand out. Platforms that guide users through off-hour sessions with intuitive tools and clever safeguards could win over the next wave of retail traders.

The Risks: Liquidity, Fatigue, and Oversight

Of course, with greater access comes greater complexity.

Mental Load and Overtrading

When the markets never close, the pressure to stay alert never stops. New traders already face challenges with screen time, FOMO, and noise overload. Always-open platforms can nudge users toward a reaction, rather than a strategy.

Even experienced traders can fall into the trap of overtrading. The sense that constant availability requires constant action. Without natural pauses or built-in nudges to disengage, decision fatigue can quietly erode both performance and wellbeing.

Execution Risk in Thin Markets

One of the realities of after-hours trading is low liquidity, even in the U.S., which already supports pre-market and post-market sessions. These conditions increase slippage, making it more difficult to execute trades at fair prices. For the average retail user, this can result in unexpected costs and poor trade outcomes.

Infrastructure and Regulatory Demands

Supporting an actual 24/7 trading environment isn’t just about flipping a switch. It means running round-the-clock surveillance, settlement systems, support staff, and fraud prevention. As trading hours expand, regulators such as the FCA, SEC, and ESMA will expect platforms to demonstrate their ability to maintain stable, transparent, and fair markets at all times.

What This Means for Fintechs and Brokers

If always-on trading becomes the norm, platforms will need to go beyond uptime and prioritize the user experience to safeguard trader longevity.

Here’s what that could look like:

• Designing for discipline: Creating tools that promote balance, encourage trader discipline, and help users avoid burnout and overtrading. Tools like inactivity prompts, volatility alerts, and liquidity transparency can help traders stay grounded.

• Educating users early: Not all hours are created equal. Platforms should clearly outline the risks associated with off-peak trading and provide guidance for more informed order placement.

• Intelligent automation: From stop-limit orders to responsibly designed AI tools, automation should help traders act intentionally, even when they’re not actively online.

• Contextual awareness: In a 24/7 world, global events hit fast. Trading tools should help users understand how regional developments could impact their holdings in real time.

The Bigger Picture: Is It Inevitable?

The push toward round-the-clock markets feels like a natural evolution. But is it inevitable? Not yet.

While crypto has raised expectations and some exchanges are exploring broader hours, there are real-world hurdles to overcome before it becomes the new normal:

• Liquidity gaps persist: Off-peak sessions often suffer from reduced participation and wider bid-ask spreads, making them less attractive for many traders. Without sufficient depth, 24/7 trading may offer more access without increased quality.

• Regulatory clarity is lacking: Exchanges pushing for extended hours must navigate oversight from bodies like the SEC, FCA, and ESMA. These regulators will likely require evidence that extended access won’t compromise market stability, surveillance, or investor protection.

• Operational demands are high: Running a trading venue continuously requires always-on infrastructure, surveillance, support, and settlement systems, which add cost and complexity, especially for smaller or regional exchanges.

• Trader fatigue is already an issue: Cognitive overload and emotional decision-making are common challenges. Extending access without protective design features could worsen the problem.
  

Whether it becomes the industry standard or remains a niche feature, brokers and fintech platforms must lead with design that helps traders manage risk, stay grounded, and avoid burnout.

Final Thought

We’ve grown used to instant access and endless choice, so it’s no surprise that 24/7 trading sounds like the next frontier. But convenience can quietly turn into pressure. Without foresight, nonstop markets could amplify emotional decision-making and overtrading, the very habits fintechs are working to help traders unlearn.

But if approached with care, combining thoughtful automation, clear education, and user-first design, it could offer something more. It’s helpful to remember that while infrastructure can scale, human decision-making doesn’t. The real question isn’t whether markets can stay open around the clock. It’s whether we’ll build systems that respect the people using them.

About the Author

Yolanda Tree is a content strategist, financial market writer, and independent trader. She helps fintech brands and brokerages communicate clearly and credibly, bridging the gap between technical complexity and real-world trader experience.