Trading hours
Open 24/7 on crypto exchanges. CFD brokers set their own hours: many offer weekend trading with a short pause, others close crypto at the weekend. CME crypto futures and options have traded 24/7 since 29 May 2026.
| When | UK time | New York time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly open | Never closes on exchanges | Never closes on exchanges | Ether trades 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on crypto exchanges. CFD brokers that offer weekend crypto may take a short weekly pause; one large broker, for example, pauses for two hours on Sunday morning server time. |
| Daily break | None on exchanges | None on exchanges | Many charts start the daily candle at 00:00 UTC (00:00 UK in winter, 01:00 UK in summer). Broker CFD charts start the day on the broker's server clock instead. |
| Friday close | No close on exchanges | No close on exchanges | Some CFD brokers stop crypto with their other markets on Friday at about 22:00 UK and reopen on Sunday night or Monday. Check your broker. |
| Busiest hours | about 13:00 to 17:00 on weekdays | about 08:00 to 12:00 | When US stock and futures traders are active and US data is released. Weekends are usually thinner, with fewer traders. |
Crypto exchanges run around the clock, so clock changes do not open or close anything. What moves is the timing of US events in UK time: US data at 8:30am New York lands at 13:30 UK for most of the year and 12:30 UK in the gap weeks, when the US has changed its clocks and the UK has not (two weeks in March, one week around late October or early November). Daily candles on many crypto charts start at 00:00 UTC, which is 00:00 UK in winter and 01:00 UK in summer. Broker CFD charts follow the broker's server clock.
What is Ethereum (ETH/USD)?
ETH/USD is the price of one ether, the coin of the Ethereum network, in US dollars. Ethereum is a network that runs programs (smart contracts), and ether is used to pay for activity on it. It is the second largest cryptocurrency after bitcoin.
You can trade it on a crypto exchange, as a CFD through a broker, or as futures on CME Group. Ether usually moves in the same direction as bitcoin but often by a larger percentage, both up and down.
The trading sessions
Steady trading on Asian exchanges. Ether can still make big moves here, often on news or forced selling of borrowed positions (liquidations).
Activity builds through the morning as European traders join.
Usually the busiest stretch, especially 13:30 to 17:00 UK when US data, US stocks and US exchange traded funds (ETFs) are all active.
Fewer traders and thinner order books. Moves can be sharp, and some CFD brokers price crypto with wider spreads or pause it.
Contract facts
Prices are in US dollars per ether. A point is a 1.00 move in price, for example from 3,000 to 3,001. Brokers usually quote two decimals.
Varies by broker. 1 lot is commonly 1 ether, and many brokers allow 0.01 lots or less. Check your broker's symbol specification.
If 1 lot is 1 ether, each 1 point move is worth 1 US dollar per lot, and a 100 point move is worth 100 dollars.
CME Ether futures: 50 ether per contract. CME Micro Ether futures: 0.1 ether per contract. CME crypto futures and options have traded 24/7 since 29 May 2026.
How far it usually moves
Varies; check the Average daily range indicator. It averages the distance from each day's high to its low (by default over the last 14 days) and draws the expected high and low for today. We do not quote a fixed number because the range changes with news and volatility.
What moves Ethereum (ETH/USD)
The direction of bitcoin, which most large coins follow.
US interest rate expectations and Federal Reserve decisions.
Money going into or out of US spot ether exchange traded funds (ETFs).
Activity and fees on the Ethereum network, and major network upgrades.
Rules and regulation news, especially from the US.
Forced selling or buying of borrowed positions (liquidations) on crypto exchanges.
Overall risk mood in markets.
Scheduled events to watch
Eight meetings a year. Press conference 30 minutes later. Remaining dates: 8 to 9 December 2026 (decision on the 9th). 2027: 26 to 27 January, 16 to 17 March, 27 to 28 April, 8 to 9 June, 27 to 28 July, 14 to 15 September, 26 to 27 October, 7 to 8 December (2027 dates are tentative until confirmed).
Monthly, usually in the middle of the month.
Usually the first Friday of the month. Next: 6 November and 4 December 2026.
Last Friday of the month, settled on the CME CF Ether Dollar Reference Rate at 4pm London time.
Announced in advance by Ethereum developers. Not on a fixed calendar.
What it tends to move with
Tends to move in the same direction as bitcoin, often by a larger percentage.
The ETH/BTC ratio shows whether ether is beating or lagging bitcoin.
At times it has moved with US technology shares, especially in sell offs.
These are tendencies, not rules.
Tips for trading Ethereum (ETH/USD)
Check bitcoin before acting on ether. A long ETH idea against a falling bitcoin is weaker; it is wrong if ETH closes back below the level you bought from while bitcoin keeps falling.
Mark the 00:00 UTC daily open and the previous day high and low. A short below yesterday's low is wrong if price closes back above it on the 4 hour chart.
Round numbers such as 3,000 and 4,000 attract orders. A bounce idea from one is wrong if price closes 50 points or more through it on the hourly chart.
Size stops in points from a real level and reduce the lot size. Ether moves further in percentage terms than bitcoin, so a stop that seems wide is often normal.
Be careful with weekend breakouts on thin trading. A breakout is wrong if price closes back inside the Friday range during the Monday US session.
Ethereum charts work on WickSpeak with no broker account connected. Key levels (pivots, previous day, week and month high and low, the open, average daily range levels, round numbers) are drawn with how many points away each one is, and every indicator writes a plain-English reading on the live candle.
Related markets
Sources: mondovisione.com, theblock.co, cmegroup.com, cmegroup.com, pepperstone.com, federalreserve.gov. Checked 2026-11-05. Broker hours follow your broker's server clock and can differ.
Questions traders ask
Does Ethereum trade 24/7?
Yes. Ether trades 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on crypto exchanges. Some CFD brokers pause it for part of the weekend or close it until Monday, so check your broker's hours.
What is the best time to trade Ethereum in the UK?
Weekdays from about 13:00 to 17:00 UK time are usually the busiest, when US markets are open and US data comes out. Weekends are often thinner, which can make moves less reliable.
Does Ethereum follow bitcoin?
Usually, yes. Ether tends to move in the same direction as bitcoin, often by a larger percentage. There are periods when it leads or lags, which traders watch on the ETH/BTC chart.
How big is one lot of Ethereum?
At most CFD brokers 1 lot is 1 ether, but it varies, so check your broker. On CME, a full ether futures contract is 50 ether and a Micro contract is 0.1 ether.
When does the Ethereum daily candle close?
Most crypto exchanges start a new daily candle at 00:00 UTC, which is midnight UK time in winter and 01:00 in summer. Broker CFD charts follow the broker's server clock.