Trading Window Widens for BIT, ETR, and SOL Contracts
Brazil’s B3 exchange, the venue controlling the pipes for Latin America’s largest capital market, confirmed Sunday it will expand trading hours for its crypto futures suite. The move, set for a phased rollout beginning March 9, aims to narrow the gap between traditional finance operating hours and the 24/7 reality of the underlying crypto market.
In a statement reported by Bitcoin.com, the exchange detailed a two-step extension for Bitcoin (BIT), Ethereum (ETR), and Solana (SOL) futures:
- Phase 1 (March 9): Trading closes at 6:30 PM (Brasília Time).
- Phase 2 (April 20): Session extends to 8:00 PM.
The adjustment effectively creates a 12-hour daily window for regulated crypto derivatives in Brazil. B3 explicitly cited demand for “greater flexibility for trading in a regulated environment” as the catalyst. While native crypto exchanges offer continuous liquidity, institutional desks often require the clearing and settlement guarantees provided by B3, which remains the sole stock exchange in Brazil.
The assessment of whether to invest in crypto assets is very similar to any other investment. It depends on the portfolio and the individual’s profile. Felipe Portilho, B3
Institutional Context: The Regulated Catch-Up
This extension signals a defensive pivot by traditional infrastructure. With local funds and family offices increasingly active in crypto, B3 risks leaking volume to offshore venues or the CME Group if its window remains too narrow. By pushing the close to 8:00 PM, B3 captures more of the U.S. trading day overlap and late-day volatility, a critical period for digital asset price discovery.
The new schedule also applies to gold futures, reinforcing the exchange’s strategy to bundle hard asset derivatives under a unified extended timetable. B3 currently settles these contracts financially, bypassing the custody complexities that often deter traditional asset managers from entering the sector.
