Charles Schwab will roll out direct trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum in Q2 2026, giving its 38.9 million brokerage clients spot crypto access for the first time.
The offering, branded as Schwab Crypto, will be delivered through its banking subsidiary and marks a shift from indirect exposure via ETFs and futures to direct asset ownership.
“We remain on track to launch our spot crypto offer in the first half of 2026, starting with bitcoin and ether,”
Said Charles Schwab.
The rollout will begin with internal testing before expanding to select users and eventually the broader client base, although access will initially exclude some regions and applicants.
Schwab’s move follows a 400% surge in crypto-related web traffic and reflects growing institutional confidence, with the firm describing Bitcoin as a “matured mainstream asset,” while planning a stablecoin launch after regulatory approval.
The company manages $12.22 trillion in assets and is entering a competitive race with firms like Morgan Stanley, which is preparing a similar crypto trading rollout through its E*TRADE platform.
The launch underscores a broader shift in traditional finance toward integrating digital assets, potentially reshaping how retail investors access and trade cryptocurrencies.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $68,750.54.