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Charles Schwab, one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, plans to launch a spot cryptocurrency trading service for Bitcoin and Ethereum in the first half of 2026. The service would be offered through the firm’s banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, giving clients direct access to spot crypto via a bank-based account rather than through Schwab’s standard brokerage platform.
The plan was first reported by BlockBeats on April 4, citing unconfirmed information. The timing aligns with earlier reporting from Reuters on December 3, 2025, when CEO Rick Wurster described Schwab’s intention to offer spot crypto trading in the first half of 2026.
Schwab’s official cryptocurrency page states that “Schwab Crypto is coming soon” and describes the planned account as a way for clients to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum. The account is expected to be offered by Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, rather than through standard Schwab brokerage accounts.
A key feature of Schwab’s approach is that spot crypto trading would be routed through its banking subsidiary instead of its brokerage arm. Schwab currently does not allow clients to buy or sell individual cryptocurrencies through a standard Schwab brokerage account, but clients would be able to apply for a separate Schwab Crypto account once the service is launched.
Wurster described a phased rollout to Reuters: the product would first be tested with employees, then opened to a small group of clients, before expanding more broadly. Schwab’s disclosures also highlight regulatory distinctions between the new crypto offering and its traditional brokerage products.
Schwab’s disclosures state that cryptocurrencies held in Schwab Crypto accounts are not securities, are not protected by SIPC, and are not FDIC-insured deposits. The disclosures also note that crypto assets may lose value.
Schwab has identified Bitcoin and Ethereum as the two assets its planned service will support. No other cryptocurrencies have been mentioned in Schwab’s official materials or in Reuters’s reporting.
At the time this research was gathered, Bitcoin traded at $66,862, up about 0.32% over the prior 24 hours. Ethereum was at $2,051.01, down about 0.22% over the same period.
The article also notes that both assets have experienced significant volatility in recent months, including Bitcoin’s 11.6% decline in Q1 alongside broader declines across altcoins.
Schwab’s move would provide a large base of retail and institutional investors with direct access to Bitcoin and Ethereum through a mainstream financial institution, without requiring accounts at crypto-native exchanges.
The service would be distinct from Schwab’s existing crypto-adjacent offerings, which include access to crypto-related ETFs and futures-based products through its brokerage platform. A spot trading service would represent a deeper integration by allowing clients to hold actual cryptocurrency through Schwab’s banking infrastructure.
Schwab’s entry is also arriving during a period of muted market sentiment. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index was reported at 11, in “Extreme Fear” territory. Social momentum for Bitcoin and Ethereum was described as subdued, with LunarCrush galaxy scores of 44.7 and 47.6, respectively.
Schwab has disclosed that the planned Schwab Crypto accounts will be available in all U.S. states except New York and Louisiana. The service is not expected to be offered in U.S. territories or international jurisdictions.
The New York exclusion is described as notable due to the state’s BitLicense framework, while Louisiana’s exclusion is also linked to state-level regulatory considerations.
Several elements remain unaddressed in public disclosures. Schwab has not publicly provided a specific launch date within the first-half 2026 window. Pricing, fee structures, and minimum account requirements have not been announced.
It is also unclear whether the service will include features common on crypto-native exchanges, such as recurring purchases, staking, or limit orders. Based on available disclosures, the scope appears limited to basic buying and selling of Bitcoin and Ethereum.
No official Schwab press release or SEC filing was found that explicitly dates the launch target to April 4, 2026. The first-half 2026 window is attributed to Reuters’s December 2025 interview with Wurster, while the April 4 report from BlockBeats remains unconfirmed by Schwab.
Custody arrangements are another open question, including whether Schwab would self-custody client crypto assets through its banking subsidiary or use a third-party custodian.
Schwab’s official crypto page confirms it is preparing a “Schwab Crypto” account that would allow clients to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum. The account would be offered through Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB.
CEO Rick Wurster told Reuters in December 2025 that Schwab aims to offer spot crypto trading in the first half of 2026. No specific date within that window has been confirmed.
Bitcoin and Ethereum are the only two assets specifically named in Schwab’s public disclosures and in Reuters’s reporting.
No. Schwab’s official page indicates the service is not yet available for buying and selling individual cryptocurrencies, but clients will be able to apply for a Schwab Crypto account “soon.”
Schwab has stated the planned accounts will be available in all U.S. states except New York and Louisiana, and will not be offered in U.S. territories or international jurisdictions.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.

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