Chicago Mercantile Commutation (CME) Grouping — the second house to launch Bitcoin Futures in the United States — will shut its Chicago trading floor effective March 13 in proactive response to coronavirus being named a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Importantly, trading will still continue per usual. This is merely well-nigh keeping 450 traders and trading floor staff out of the same physical infinite to guard against infection.

Financial markets across the U.South. have been severely affected by the outbreak, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1,500 points in 24 hours at the fourth dimension of writing.

Endmost trading floor is precautionary

CME is the world'southward largest financial derivatives exchange, and trades in agricultural products, fiat and cryptocurrencies, interest rates, metals, and stock indexes. The grouping released a argument citing the precautionary principle:

"No coronavirus cases have been reported on the trading floor or in the Chicago Board of Trade building. The reopening of the trading floor volition exist evaluated as more medical guidance on the coronavirus becomes available."

Coronavirus-related closures

To engagement, the coronavirus outbreak has been responsible for stopping nearly flights to and from Red china, closing Italia to the entire world, and earlier today, travel restrictions between Europe and the United states of america.

Notwithstanding, there are no plans nonetheless appear to shut the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, despite the 200+ confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city. The Nasdaq, also based in NYC, is preparing a backup trading floor and data facility in Philadelphia'south Navy K business center, only remains open for business.

Coinbase, the crypto exchange out of San Francisco, and Messari, a crypto analytics house in New York City, have both announced employees will work from home until further notice.
Blockstack and the Winklevoss Twins are also encouraging employees to work remotely.

Every bit of today, the The states has one,322 confirmed cases of people infected with COVID-xix, with 38 reported deaths.