Top Assets to Trade on Weekends

Trading is no longer limited to the age-old 9-to-5 weekday. As financial markets have evolved and global, decentralised platforms have emerged, traders now enjoy an extended range of assets that can be traded even during weekends. As a full-time investor or a weekend enthusiast, the weekend creates new avenues for making educated trades, profiling risk, and diversifying your approach.

While many of the markets like equities and some commodities close down on Friday night, there are still a lot of liquid, volatile, and interesting instruments available to trade on Saturdays and Sundays. The secret is to identify which markets are open, which assets are still active, and which ones offer good trading volume and price action when most of the conventional financial universe is closed.

Let's get into some of the most notable assets you can trade during the weekend.

1.        Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are the most widely traded assets offered 24/7, including on weekends. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the altcoins do not trade in usual market hours, making them an ideal choice for weekend traders. The decentralised nature of crypto networks implies there is no centralised entity that dictates trading sessions. Instead, the market is open around the clock across different global exchanges, offering uniform liquidity and volatility.

Among the top cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are the most frequently traded during weekends because of their large market capitalisation and liquidity. Traders are also interested in trending altcoins like Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and XRP, particularly when demonstrating news-related price action or technical breakouts.

Weekend volume can differ, but crypto usually experiences substantial activity on Sundays, when traders in Asia and Europe set up for the upcoming week. This presents a chance for momentum-based forex trading strategies, particularly for scalpers and short-term traders.

2.        Forex (Crypto Brokers and CFDs)

The traditional forex market closes on Friday night and reopens late Sunday evening (GMT), but that doesn’t mean retail traders are left without options. Several crypto-friendly brokers and CFD platforms now offer online forex trading with extended weekend hours. While not universally available, these offerings are popular among traders who use platforms that simulate market conditions or offer weekend trading based on projected prices.

Certain brokers allow weekend trading on popular forex. These simulated or ‘out-of-hours’ forex markets give traders the chance to position themselves ahead of the market open or capitalise on news events that break over the weekend. It’s particularly beneficial when geopolitical events or central bank developments happen between Friday’s close and Monday’s open.

3.        Crypto Indexes & Tokenised Assets

Another unique segment that thrives on weekends is crypto indexes or tokenised versions of real-world assets. These are essentially financial products or digital tokens that mirror the value of broader asset groups or indices. For example:

·        Crypto-based DeFi indexes that track a basket of decentralised finance tokens

·        Tokenised versions of stocks or commodities (e.g., tokenised Apple shares or tokenised gold)

Platforms like FTX (before its collapse), and now newer ones like Synthetix and dYdX, allow users to gain exposure to traditional assets through tokens—assets that can be traded around the clock. This provides traders with the flexibility to speculate on stock-like instruments even when traditional stock markets are closed.

4.        Weekend Binary Options and Derivatives

Some platforms specialise in weekend-only products like binary options and other derivatives. These are simplified financial contracts where traders predict whether the price of an asset will go up or down over a set time frame.

Platforms offering such instruments typically include assets like:

·        Crypto pairs

·        Commodity CFDs

·        Index CFDs

While highly speculative and risky, binary options can attract traders who prefer fast-paced decisions and clear outcomes. The key to success in weekend binary options lies in strong technical analysis and news monitoring.

5.        Weekend Commodities (Synthetic or Tokenised)

While traditional commodity markets like oil and gold shut down over the weekend, several platforms offer tokenised versions or CFDs with extended trading hours, allowing traders to speculate on commodities even during the weekend lull.

These weekend commodity products are mostly priced based on the expected Monday open or based on proprietary price feeds maintained by the broker or exchange. Traders use them to prepare for Monday gaps, hedge existing positions, or experiment with strategies.

Conclusion

Weekend trading is now no longer a novelty but an expanding segment of the financial sphere that provides flexible opportunities for those who are willing to move out of the conventional market times. From cryptocurrencies and synthetic indexes to tokenized stocks and binary options, there's a variety of assets that suit all types of traders during weekends.

But caution should be exercised in weekend trading. Reduced liquidity may sometimes increase slippage, widen spreads, and result in surprise volatility. Risk management is crucial, and traders must not overleverage or make trades out of boredom.

As trading platforms improve and the distinctions between weekdays and weekends become increasingly irrelevant, smartly trading 7 days a week is becoming an essential part of every successful trader's arsenal. Whether looking for short bursts of activity or creating long-term positions, weekend markets provide ample opportunity, if you know where to look.