Charles Schwab to Offer Bitcoin, Ethereum Trading

Charles Schwab, one of the largest U.S. brokerages with more than 11 trillion dollars in client assets, announced plans this week to introduce direct spot trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum through a new service called Schwab Crypto. The phased rollout is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with full availability targeted for the first half of 2026, allowing the firm's approximately 35 million retail clients to buy and sell the cryptocurrencies alongside traditional investments like stocks and bonds.

The service will charge a 0.75 percent fee per transaction, positioning it competitively against platforms such as Robinhood, which offers commission-free crypto trades, and Coinbase, where retail fees can reach up to 4 percent. Clients will access trading via Schwab's existing platforms, including Schwab.com, the mobile app, and thinkorswim, but through a separate crypto account linked to their brokerage accounts. This structure keeps digital assets distinct from standard holdings, with custody provided by Charles Schwab Premier Bank and sub-custody and execution handled by Paxos, a regulated blockchain infrastructure provider.

Schwab executives emphasized the move responds to...