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American financial giant Charles Schwab is about to reach a historic milestone. By the end of the first half of 2026, its clients will be able to buy bitcoins and ethereum directly on the platform. The announcement comes at a time when the crypto market is going through a period of turbulence.
In short
- Charles Schwab to launch spot trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum before the end of the first half of 2026.
- The rollout will begin on a limited basis before gradually expanding to the entire US clientele.
- New York and Louisiana are excluded from the system for now.
- Schwab has also shown interest in stablecoins and announced plans to integrate them into its offering.
Charles Schwab is set to launch spot trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum
Charles Schwab, one of the most powerful brokers in the United States with over $12.2 trillion in assets under management, will offer its American clients direct purchase of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The launch is planned before the end of the first half of 2026, a spokesperson for Decrypt media confirmed. The machine is in motion.
CEO Rick Wurster already revealed this last March during an interview with Barron’s. Deployment will begin on a limited basis in the second quarter before gradually opening up to the entire clientele. Those interested can already register on the Schwab site to try to secure early access.
Observers did not miss one detail: a new page called “Schwab Crypto” recently appeared in the “Investment Products” section of the official website. The signal is strong.
Until now, Charles Schwab has primarily offered indirect exposure to the crypto market through ETFs or stocks linked to the sector, such as Coinbase (COIN) and Strategy (MSTR). This time, the company is taking the next step and preparing to offer direct access to digital assets.
The offer will not be open to everyone from the start. The service will be reserved for US residents, with the exception of those in New York and Louisiana, two jurisdictions where regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies remain strict.
A strategic shift in a turbulent market
The announcement comes amid a particularly turbulent environment for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin just closed its worst quarter ever, down nearly 22% since January.
It traded around $66,864 on Friday, down 47% from its all-time high of $126,080. Ethereum, meanwhile, is trading around $2,052, down 59% from its peak.
Trade wars, tariffs and the Fed’s tight monetary policy: risk assets have taken the brunt of macroeconomic uncertainties. Yet it was precisely in this context that Schwab decided to accelerate.
This is not a coincidence. For years, the company justified its contribution with ambiguities in the legal regulations. Since the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House, the wind has picked up. The SEC is taking a more accommodating stance toward the crypto industry, and large financial institutions are using this window to reposition their offerings.
Schwab goes even further: Wurster made clear the firm’s stablecoin ambitions. “Stablecoins are likely to play a role in blockchain transactions, and that’s something we want to be able to offer” he said during the results conference.
In short, Charles Schwab’s entry into spot trading marks a new phase in the institutionalization of cryptocurrencies in the United States. With more than $12.2 trillion in assets under management, the company represents one of the strongest bridges between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem. Its shares ( SCHW ) have also risen nearly 19% in one year, outperforming Bitcoin over the same period.
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I am passionate about Bitcoin, I love exploring the intricacies of blockchain and cryptocurrency and sharing my discoveries with the community. My dream is to live in a world where privacy and financial freedom are guaranteed for everyone, and I firmly believe that Bitcoin is the tool that can make this possible.
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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be construed as investment advice. Before making any investment decision, do your own research.
