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Charles Schwab to Start Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading This Quarter

The brokerage will add direct crypto trades to standard accounts through its regulated bank unit.

Overview

  • Schwab will open the service in phases, starting with employees, then invited clients, before a broader rollout targeted for Q2, according to CEO Rick Wurster.
  • Clients will buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum inside existing brokerage accounts without a separate wallet, with custody and processing handled by Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB.
  • A new Schwab Crypto page now takes sign-ups for early access, and a spokesperson told Decrypt the launch is on track for the first half of 2026 with New York and Louisiana excluded at first.
  • With more than $12 trillion in client assets, Schwab says it is ready to compete with Coinbase, Robinhood, and Webull on spot crypto trading.
  • The company also plans a stablecoin offering, which is a token pegged to the dollar, following passage of the GENIUS bill and pending final operational steps.