CFTC Extends Comment Window on 24/7 Futures and Energy Perpetuals Rule

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced a 30-day extension to the public comment deadline on proposed rules governing the trading hours and structure of energy derivatives contracts, according to a CFTC press release. The new deadline is August 26, 2026.

The extension covers two distinct regulatory questions. The first addresses whether standard energy futures contracts should be permitted to trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week while keeping their fixed expiration dates intact, though with material changes to delivery or settlement terms. The second concerns whether perpetual contracts, when they reference physically delivered or storable energy commodities, should be allowed under CFTC oversight.

The Commission based the extension on requests from commenters and the addition of several new questions to the rulemaking proposal. The CFTC stated that it has conducted extensive conversations with industry participants to fully understand the regulatory issues at stake.

Market participants can submit comments electronically through Regulations.gov or by other methods specified in the CFTC's request for comment. All submissions will be posted publicly on Regulations.gov.

The extension reflects the complexity of reshaping trading hours and contract mechanics for energy derivatives, a sector where settlement procedures and delivery logistics are tied to physical commodity flows. Whether to permit continuous trading and introduce perpetual contracts for such commodities involves questions about operational risk, market surveillance, and default management that the CFTC appears to be treating with deliberation rather than expedition.