Charles Schwab, one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, has announced plans to offer direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to its clients by the second quarter of 2026.
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The move represents one of the most significant entries by a traditional financial institution into spot cryptocurrency trading, potentially opening the door for millions of existing Schwab customers to buy and sell digital assets through a platform they already use.
The announcement, first reported by Crypto Briefing, signals a strategic shift for Schwab, which has previously offered crypto exposure only through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and crypto-linked equities.
Direct spot trading of BTC and ETH would place Schwab in direct competition with crypto-native exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken, as well as other traditional brokerages that have begun integrating digital asset services.
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Why It Matters
Schwab manages trillions of dollars in client assets and serves approximately 35 million active brokerage accounts. Offering direct crypto trading through its existing infrastructure could significantly lower the barrier to entry for retail investors and registered investment advisors (RIAs) who have been hesitant to use standalone crypto platforms.
The timing aligns with a broader trend across the U.S. financial industry. Since the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 and spot Ethereum ETFs later that year, traditional finance firms have been steadily expanding their crypto offerings. Competitors including Fidelity, Interactive Brokers, and Robinhood already offer some form of direct crypto trading.
Regulatory Backdrop
Schwab's decision comes amid a shifting regulatory environment in the United States.
The SEC under new leadership has signaled a more accommodating stance toward crypto, and proposed legislation around market structure and stablecoin regulation has advanced in Congress.
These developments have given traditional financial firms greater confidence to expand into digital assets.
The firm's initial offering will be limited to Bitcoin and Ethereum — the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Whether Schwab plans to expand to additional digital assets beyond the Q2 2026 launch has not been disclosed.
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What to Watch
The key question is execution. Schwab will need to build or partner for custody, trade execution, and compliance infrastructure that meets the standards its clients expect. The firm has not yet detailed whether it will use a third-party custodian or build proprietary solutions.
