Clear Street, the cloud-native brokerage known for modernizing capital markets infrastructure, has taken another major step in its mission to reimagine prime brokerage services. On March 13, 2025, the firm announced a significant expansion of its equities business with the launch of 24-hour, six-day trading capabilities. This move, enabled through a new connection with Blue Ocean Technologies, marks a pivotal evolution in Clear Street’s trading infrastructure and positions it at the forefront of a growing trend toward round-the-clock U.S. equities trading.
Expanding to 24/6 Trading Through Blue Ocean Technologies
Clear Street’s partnership with Blue Ocean Technologies allows it to offer equities trading from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM EST, Sunday through Thursday, extending the availability of U.S. stock trading into non-traditional hours. This is particularly important for the firm’s growing base of clients in Asia, who now have the ability to trade U.S. National Market System (NMS) stocks during their local market hours.
Andy Volz, Clear Street’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the importance of this development for international clients. “As a financial technology firm with our own platform, we were able to transition to 24/6 trading within about a month,” he said. Volz noted that the firm began servicing Asian clients a year prior and has seen a strong demand for overnight trading access to U.S. markets. Blue Ocean ATS, a platform increasingly popular in Asia, became the natural partner to fulfill this need.
Peter Eliades, Head of Electronic Trading at Clear Street, described 24/6 trading as a natural extension of the firm’s client-first philosophy and its commitment to technological innovation. “We have a last-mover advantage with our cutting-edge technology that allows us to offer a ‘follow the sun’ execution model,” Eliades explained. “This ensures that trading can happen seamlessly around the clock, wherever our clients are based.”
A Culture of Operational Excellence
Clear Street has long been recognized for offering extended trading hours, often with traders on the desk from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM EST. The expansion to 24/6 trading builds on this legacy. Volz credited the rapid implementation of the new trading hours to the leadership of Eliades and his team, who spent the last year optimizing the firm’s technology.
“We always had one of the longest trading schedules among institutional prime brokers, and our clients appreciate that level of service,” said Volz. “This latest move is a continuation of our commitment to offering comprehensive, responsive support to our global client base.”
Global Presence and 24/6 Operations
Clear Street’s international footprint has grown significantly in recent years. The firm opened a London office in 2024 and now has personnel stationed in Asia, enabling it to maintain a fully staffed operation 24 hours a day. This global infrastructure supports the firm’s 24/6 model and ensures timely execution and support for clients across time zones.
Volz sees 24-hour U.S. equities trading as a trend in its early stages, predicting substantial growth in the years to come. “It’s a trend that is just beginning, and we want to be at the forefront,” he said. “We’ve already signed up a large multi-strategy hedge fund for overnight trading, and we anticipate interest from other institutional clients, including real-money managers.”
Leading in Futures and Clearing Services
Clear Street’s technological edge has allowed it to be a first mover in other areas of capital markets as well. In April 2024, the firm launched futures clearing and execution services for global clients on U.S. exchanges. Within 12 months, Clear Street connected to 16 exchanges and clearinghouses, a feat Volz described as “unheard of.”
“We will be one of the first connectors to each new 24-hour trading venue as they come online,” he added, pointing to the firm’s scalable technology as a critical enabler of its aggressive expansion.
Industry-Wide Movement Toward 24-Hour Trading
Clear Street is not alone in embracing the shift to 24-hour trading. In March 2025, FINRA and the SEC approved Bruce ATS for overnight trading of U.S. equities. Bruce offers trading from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET, Sunday through Thursday. Similarly, Cboe Global Markets has announced plans to offer 24/5 trading for U.S. equities on its EDGX Equities Exchange, pending regulatory approval.
Cboe already supports early morning trading from 4:00 AM ET and reported a 135% increase in volume during those hours between 2022 and 2024. Meanwhile, DTCC’s National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) is preparing to extend its clearing hours in 2026 to accommodate this new market structure.
Brian Steele, President of Clearing and Securities Services at DTCC, said: “As interest in near round-the-clock trading of U.S. equities grows, we are meeting this demand by extending our clearing hours to support our clients and further strengthen the safety and soundness of the markets.”
Strategic Growth and Acquisition
Clear Street’s push into 24/6 trading is just one aspect of its broader growth strategy. In November 2024, the firm expanded its service offerings by launching an equity research group, enhancing its appeal to institutional clients. Volz noted that the new group contributes to client acquisition and helps build a robust, full-service brokerage platform.
Over the past four years, Clear Street has grown its institutional client base to more than 600, with expectations to surpass 1,000 by the end of 2025. “Clients are attracted to us for our independence, technology, and our position as a first mover,” Volz said.
Clear Street also acquired Fox River from Instinet in October 2024. Fox River, known for its algorithmic execution solutions for U.S. and Canadian equities, has been seamlessly integrated into Clear Street’s infrastructure. “We were able to cut over Fox River between a Friday and a Monday,” Eliades explained. “Their business has increased our clearing footprint.”
Today, Clear Street clears approximately 3.5% of U.S. equity market volume, a notable achievement for a relatively young firm. Eliades noted that the firm is working to extend Fox River’s operating hours to support its 24/6 trading framework.
Innovation and Future Plans
Clear Street’s growth is underpinned by its proprietary technology platform, Clear Street Studio—a fully integrated front-to-back office solution that gives clients real-time access to data and portfolio analytics. Volz believes the platform is a key differentiator that will enable the firm to scale effectively.
Looking ahead, Clear Street is preparing to launch outsourced trading capabilities as it continues to expand its execution services globally. “We are taking our technology and extending it to global execution,” said Volz. “We are in growth mode.”
By combining cutting-edge technology, global infrastructure, and a relentless focus on client needs, Clear Street is positioning itself as a leader in the next era of institutional trading—an era defined by continuous access, transparency, and innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 24/6 trading?
24/6 trading allows investors to trade U.S. equities 24 hours a day, six days a week—typically from Sunday evening through Friday evening—enabling greater flexibility for global market participants.
Why is Clear Street implementing 24/6 trading?
Clear Street is responding to client demand, especially from Asia, for the ability to trade U.S. equities during their local market hours. It also positions the firm as a technology leader in an emerging round-the-clock market.
How is Clear Street enabling 24/6 trading?
By integrating with Blue Ocean Technologies’ ATS (Alternative Trading System), Clear Street enables off-hours trading of U.S. National Market System stocks from 8 PM to 4 AM EST.
Is this service available to all Clear Street clients?
Yes, Clear Street’s 24/6 trading is available to institutional clients, with growing adoption expected from hedge funds and asset managers globally.
How does Clear Street ensure operational coverage for 24/6 trading?
Clear Street has built a global presence with offices and staff in key regions, including London and Asia, allowing them to maintain a true 24-hour operational model.
How does this compare to other players in the market?
Clear Street is among the early adopters of full 24/6 equities trading. While others like Cboe and Bruce ATS are entering the space, Clear Street’s cloud-native platform and early mover advantage distinguish its offering.
What other services does Clear Street offer?
In addition to equities trading, Clear Street offers prime brokerage, futures clearing and execution, equity research, and technology solutions through Clear Street Studio.
Conclusion
Clear Street’s move to 24/6 equities trading represents a significant milestone—not only for the firm, but for the broader financial industry. As markets globalize and investor demands evolve, the ability to provide seamless, always-on access to U.S. equities is quickly becoming a competitive necessity.
