Major US exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, are formulating plans to significantly expand trading hours beyond traditional sessions, signaling a potential shift toward 24-hour market access. While pre-market and after-hours trading currently exist, activity remains limited compared to standard sessions. The push for round-the-clock equity trading is driven by the proliferation of 24/7 cryptocurrency platforms and prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, alongside growing demand from international investors seeking continuous liquidity. Exchanges are now moving to extend hours to accommodate global participants requiring timely execution outside standard US market times.