It is no secret that the traditional finance (trad-fi) sector has long operated within the confines of well-established business trading norms , typically running from Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. However, with the advent of crypto, there has been a disruption in this age-old paradigm, with the constant availability of these digital assets representing a complete democratization of finance in the digital age. Unlike traditional markets that close for holidays, weekends, and after-hours, cryptocurrency exchanges remain operational regardless of time zones or calendar dates. As a result, traders worldwide can react to market-moving events in real-time, regardless of when they occur. The weekend trading revolution is here. Here are the numbers This contrast between traditional and crypto markets becomes particularly pronounced during the weekends. Recent market analysis has revealed a notable surge during these periods, with volumes reaching up to 80% higher than typical weekday levels for certain cryptocurrencies. This increased activity has been found to largely stem from retail investors who find weekends more conducive to active trading, given their busy work schedules during regular business days. Moreover, some studies have found that Bitcoin routinely witnesses price fluctuations of 5% during the weekends — thus presenting investors with a tremendous opportunity to register solid profits. Bitcoin’s price action and volume swings over the weekends. Source: Investopedia.com Lastly, it bears mentioning that the influence of market sentiment is particularly important during weekend trading sessions. When positive news breaks, the market experiences rapid price movements (both upward and downward), with retail investors rushing to capitalize on the developments. Here’s how some exchanges are making weekend trading fun To leverage the distinctive characteristics of weekend crypto trading, some cryptocurrency exchanges have devised creative solutions to engage and support their users, providing them with additional value and opportunities. VALR , Africa’s largest digital asset trading platform by volume, for instance, has emerged as a forerunner in this space. Having secured $55 million in equity funding from industry giants like Pantera Capital and Coinbase Ventures, the platform has established itself as a leading force within the global crypto fray. Building on its strong foundation, VALR recently introduced an exciting initiative known as the Weekend Trading Challenge . Running from January 11 to March 30, 2025, the initiative offers traders the opportunity to compete for a share of $12,000 in crypto rewards while enjoying significant fee reductions. To elaborate, the challenge is structured to reward both spot and futures traders, with each weekend featuring a prize pool of $1,000 split between the top performers. Spot traders who achieve a minimum trading volume of $500 over the weekend can compete for their share of $500 USDC, while futures traders meeting the $5,000 minimum volume threshold vie for $500 USDT in rewards. The reward distribution is carefully tiered, with the top performer in each category receiving $120, and subsequent positions receiving gradually decreasing amounts down to $10 for the tenth place. Apart from this competitive aspect, VALR has also implemented an attractive fee structure with participants enjoying a 15% reduction in spot trading fees and a substantial 25% discount on futures trading fees on Saturdays and Sundays. Lastly, to ensure fair distribution, these discounts are capped at a $1,000 pool per weekend, split evenly between Saturday and Sunday, with rewards distributed on a first-come, first-served basis up to $50 per trader. Weekend trading as a rapidly growing market opportunity The cryptocurrency market has witnessed explosive adoption in recent years as evidenced by a recent report from Crypto.com which suggests that during the first quarter of 2024 alone, the number of crypto owners worldwide reached an unprecedented 580 million , marking a substantial 34% increase from the 432 million recorded at the beginning of the previous year. This significant growth in crypto adoption has ushered in an increasingly promising future for weekend trading activities. Therefore, as more individuals enter the market, the importance of maximizing trading opportunities during these periods has become more important than ever before. Disclaimer : The content on this site should not be considered investment advice. Investing is speculative. When investing, your capital is at risk. The post The rise of the 24/7 crypto revolution and how weekend trading is reshaping digital finance appeared first on Finbold .
