Schwab plans spot bitcoin, ether trading launch in first half of 2026
Charles Schwab, one of America's largest brokerage firms, announced plans to launch spot bitcoin and ether trading services for its clients in the first half of 2026. The move marks a significant expansion of cryptocurrency offerings for the firm, which manages over $8 trillion in client assets and serves more than 34 million accounts across its retail and institutional platforms.
The announcement comes as traditional financial institutions increasingly embrace direct cryptocurrency exposure following the successful launch of spot bitcoin and ether exchange-traded funds earlier this year. Schwab currently offers cryptocurrency ETF trading but has not provided direct spot trading capabilities for digital assets. The firm joins other major brokerages like Fidelity and Interactive Brokers in expanding crypto services to meet growing client demand.
This development signals continued mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency trading among established financial service providers. Schwab's entry into spot crypto trading could significantly increase retail access to digital assets, potentially driving additional trading volume and market liquidity. The move also reflects the maturing regulatory environment around cryptocurrency trading, as traditional brokerages gain more clarity on compliance requirements for offering digital asset services.
Industry observers will be monitoring whether Schwab plans to expand beyond bitcoin and ether to include additional cryptocurrencies, and how the firm structures its custody and security protocols for digital asset holdings.
Source: CoinDesk
