The cryptocurrency markets operate uninterrupted on Memorial Day 2026, Monday, May 25, despite the complete closure of traditional stock exchanges. The decentralized nature of crypto trading allows for continuous activity, unlike the regulated holiday closures of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Traders will resume traditional market activities on Tuesday, May 26.
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq remain closed for the full session on Memorial Day 2026. Trading will resume on Tuesday, May 26, at the usual 9:30 a.m. ET open. The U.S. bond market also shut its doors today, after closing early at 2 p.m. ET on Friday, May 22.
Regular stock market hours, which normally run 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays, simply do not apply on this day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes Memorial Day as “the nation’s foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service men and women.” The NYSE holiday schedule for 2026 counts this as one of 10 official market holidays.
As for crypto, that market does not follow a holiday calendar at all. Cryptocurrency trades around the clock through a decentralized network, which means no memorial day stock market hours apply there. Crypto keeps going on May 25 the same as on any other Monday. Some traders also ask whether extended hours count for traditional markets on this day.
A few brokers do let you queue orders, but regular NYSE and Nasdaq sessions stay completely off on Memorial Day 2026. Those queued orders will go through when normal trading resumes Tuesday morning. The next full closure after today’s Memorial Day shutdown lands on Juneteenth, June 19.
