US-based financial company Charles Schwab plans to launch spot cryptocurrency trading in the first half of 2026. This step will significantly increase the company’s activities in the digital asset market. Schwab aims to offer investors cryptocurrency transactions on a single platform.
The first phase will include Bitcoin and Ethereum
Charles Schwab is preparing to first include Bitcoin and Ethereum in the system for spot crypto transactions. A representative of the company stated that the new service will be offered through Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB. An account type called “Schwab Crypto” has been opened to the waiting list for customers who want early access. Once this account is launched, investors will be able to buy and sell two major cryptocurrencies directly.
The company’s senior management had signaled last year that digital asset services would be offered soon as demand in the crypto space increased. CEO Rick Wurster pointed out that this step will enable customers to monitor crypto, stocks and bonds through the same account. Thus, it is aimed for investors to access all asset types from a single platform.
Market experience and available services
Charles Schwab operates as one of the leading brokerage firms in the financial industry. The company offers a variety of financial products to millions of individual and institutional investors. It was reported that the total assets under management reached 11.9 trillion dollars in 2025. Schwab’s large customer base is seen as an advantage that could quickly expand the reach of its new crypto service.
The company already allowed customers to invest in cryptocurrency index funds and run Bitcoin futures on its platform. Additionally, an ETF called the Schwab Crypto Thematic Index (STCE) was also introduced, tracking companies affiliated with the digital asset sector. These brokers and investments provided clients with different options in the digital asset space.
It is stated that spot cryptocurrency transactions will offer customers the opportunity to buy and sell digital assets directly, unlike the futures and ETF options previously offered. Thus, users will get an additional channel for investing in cryptocurrencies.
With the company’s entry into the market, cryptocurrency trading will meet a wider audience of investors. Crypto exchanges, which have been operating in the sector for a long time, are entering a new era in competition with the increasing interest of traditional financial institutions.
