SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, a seasoned regulatory expert, has announced the agenda and panelists for the SEC's roundtable on preparations for 24-hour trading, scheduled for September 17, 2026. The event is a significant development in the ongoing debate around the future of global markets. The SEC's roundtable brings together industry stakeholders, including institutional investors, market participants, and regulators, to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by 24-hour trading.
The roundtable will be held at the SEC's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will feature a diverse range of panelists, including prominent market experts, such as Thomas Farley, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, and Lori Garver, CEO of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The agenda will cover topics such as market volatility, risk management, and the impact of 24-hour trading on investor protection. The event is expected to attract significant attention from market participants, policymakers, and the media.
Industry insiders point to the growing demand for 24-hour trading as a key driver of the SEC's efforts to prepare for this new reality. According to data from the International Organization of Securities Commissions, global trading volumes have been steadily increasing over the past decade, with 2025 seeing a record 64 billion trades. As the trading landscape continues to evolve, regulators and market participants alike are recognizing the need for more effective risk management frameworks and more robust investor protection mechanisms.
The SEC's roundtable on 24-hour trading has significant implications for companies operating in the global infrastructure domain. Research communities, such as the University of Oxford's Financial Regulation Research Network, have been actively exploring the impact of 24-hour trading on market stability and investor protection. For example, a recent study published in the Journal of Financial Economics found that 24-hour trading is associated with increased market volatility and reduced investor returns.
Affected companies, such as Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange, are already investing heavily in infrastructure upgrades to support 24-hour trading. However, regulatory bodies, such as the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, are also taking steps to ensure that investor protection mechanisms are in place to mitigate the risks associated with 24-hour trading. Market participants, such as institutional investors, are also playing a critical role in shaping the regulatory framework for 24-hour trading.
The SEC's efforts to prepare for 24-hour trading are part of a broader trend towards greater globalization and technological advancement in the financial sector. The 2019 financial crisis highlighted the need for more effective risk management frameworks and more robust investor protection mechanisms. In response, regulatory bodies, such as the European Securities and Markets Authority, have been working to develop more effective regulatory frameworks for the digital assets market.
Why it matters: this intelligence reflects a shift that researchers and analysts should follow closely.
Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson is the founder and host of Banking With Billy, an independent financial intelligence platform covering markets, stocks, AI, crypto, and world news. Billy operates a 24/7 live AI radio and Stock TV platform, hosts a growing Discord community, and produces daily content on YouTube @BankingWithBilly.
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