Charles Schwab to Offer Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading in 2026 as Client Demand Surges
$11 Trillion Brokerage Expands Into Crypto With Thinkorswim Integration, Followed by Full Platform Rollout
Charles Schwab, one of the largest brokerages in the United States with nearly $11 trillion in client assets, has announced plans to launch spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading beginning in 2026. The rollout will start with Schwab’s advanced trading platform Thinkorswim, before expanding to Schwab.com and the company’s mobile apps.
The move represents one of the most significant entries by a major U.S. brokerage into direct crypto spot markets, following years of hesitation due to regulatory uncertainty and market volatility.
Why Schwab Is Entering Spot Crypto Trading Now
Schwab executives cited multiple factors behind the decision, all signaling a new era of mainstream crypto adoption:
1. Client demand is exploding
According to internal data, traffic to Schwab’s crypto educational pages and research tools has increased 90% year-over-year, one of the strongest signals of rising retail and advisor interest in digital assets.
2. The regulatory landscape has shifted
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs and expanded SEC guidance has made the U.S. environment more predictable. Combined with upcoming policy changes — such as the SEC’s innovation exemption and clearer tokenization rules — Schwab views 2026 as the first stable window to safely offer spot trading.
3. Competitor momentum
Firms like BlackRock, Fidelity, Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill, and Robinhood have all expanded crypto access. Schwab risks losing younger and more digitally native clients if it does not adapt.
4. Schwab wants a unified portfolio dashboard
Executive Wurster emphasized that Schwab aims to provide “one dashboard for all holdings,” allowing clients to see equities, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, cash, and now Bitcoin and Ethereum in a single interface.
What Schwab Will Offer: Direct Spot Trading, But With Warning Labels
Schwab will provide direct spot BTC and ETH trading, not derivatives or synthetic products. This means:
clients will buy “real” Bitcoin and Ethereum
trades will be executed through Schwab’s existing execution partners
custody will be managed through established, regulated crypto custodians
However, Schwab is emphasizing risk disclosure more than consumer crypto apps typically do.
Wurster highlighted that crypto carries:
extreme volatility
liquidity risks
cybersecurity exposure
regulatory uncertainty
the possibility of total loss
This aligns with Schwab’s conservative investor base and its long-standing reputation for risk-first financial planning.
How This Move Fits Into Broader Financial Trends
Schwab’s entry into crypto aligns with several macro trends shaping global markets:
1. Traditional financial institutions are normalizing crypto
BlackRock’s tokenization push, Fidelity’s Bitcoin products, and BofA’s crypto allocation guidelines all point to digital assets becoming a standard portfolio component.
2. Clients increasingly expect crypto from their existing broker
Instead of opening separate accounts on crypto-native exchanges, investors prefer unified access via trusted brokers.
3. Crypto is converging with wealth management models
Advisors are integrating digital assets into model portfolios, typically recommending 1–4% allocations — a trend Schwab is preparing to support.
4. Tokenization and blockchain settlement rails will require brokerage integration
Schwab’s crypto offering lays the groundwork for future features such as:
tokenized T-bills
digital mutual funds
blockchain-based settlement
programmatic financial tools
What to Expect in 2026
Industry analysts predict:
a significant inflow of conservative and long-term investors
increased competition between Schwab, Fidelity, and Morgan Stanley for crypto-savvy clients
more spot assets added over time (e.g., Solana, tokenized funds)
the potential for crypto to appear in Schwab’s robo-advisor strategies once volatility stabilizes
Schwab’s entry could also accelerate Washington’s progress toward full digital asset regulatory frameworks.
