NEW YORK, January 19, 2026, 03:20 EST
- U.S. stock markets will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; trading resumes Tuesday.
- Under T+1 settlement rules, trades executed before the holiday will settle one day later than usual
- Crypto trades around the clock, yet U.S.-listed crypto ETFs halt trading during market closures
U.S. stock markets, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Trading picks back up Tuesday. The next full-market closure won’t be until Presidents Day on Feb. 16, 2026.
The timing is crucial since the U.S. operates on a T+1 settlement cycle—meaning trades settle one business day after the trade date—for most stocks and ETFs. With Monday a holiday, trades executed late last week won’t settle until Tuesday, delaying the cash and share exchange by a full day.
“For everyday investors who sell their stock on a Monday, shortening the settlement cycle means they’ll receive their money by Tuesday,” SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a 2024 statement about the move to T+1. SEC
Nasdaq’s 2026 holiday calendar shows full closures on Jan. 1, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, April 3, May 25, June 19, July 3, Sept. 7, Nov. 26, and Dec. 25. Early shutdowns at 1 p.m. Eastern are scheduled for Nov. 27 and Dec. 24.
NYSE Group, under Intercontinental Exchange, will maintain its 2026 schedule with full-day closures for cash equity markets and two early closes at 1 p.m., according to the exchange group’s calendar. Eligible options will close slightly later, at 1:15 p.m.
FINRA’s 2026 holiday calendar for market transparency reporting tools confirms early closes at 1 p.m. on both Thanksgiving Friday and Christmas Eve FINRA.
The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association advises a full shutdown of U.S. dollar-denominated fixed income trading on MLK Day. Its 2026 calendar also calls for a noon close on Good Friday, with 2 p.m. early closes scheduled before several major holidays.
Crypto never sleeps. Bitcoin and ether spot markets run nonstop, yet U.S.-listed ETFs tied to them only trade during regular stock exchange hours. A post from Blockchain.News pointed out this disconnect for traders juggling BTC and ETH products across different markets.
The mismatch can work both ways. When crypto prices swing sharply during a U.S. market holiday, ETF investors have no chance to respond instantly and might encounter a price gap once trading resumes.
Investors keeping a close eye on cash now face a tougher calendar. Under T+1, missing a single business day can throw off settlement, margin deadlines, and everyday portfolio adjustments.
