Charles Schwab Launches Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading

Charles Schwab rolls out direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for retail clients, offering 75bps pricing and full brokerage integration.

Charles Schwab is entering the spot crypto market. 

The financial giant announced Schwab Crypto on April 16, 2026, a new trading offer giving retail clients direct access to Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

The rollout begins in phases over the coming weeks. It marks a significant step for one of America’s most trusted brokerage firms.

Read also: 

Schwab Crypto Brings Direct Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading to Retail Investors

According to the announcement, clients will trade Bitcoin and Ethereum directly within the Schwab platform. 

These two cryptocurrencies represent roughly three-quarters of the total crypto market capitalization. Schwab cited this dominance as a key reason for prioritizing them at launch.

Clients will view their crypto holdings alongside traditional investments on Schwab.com, the Schwab Mobile app, and the thinkorswim trading platform. 

Jonathan Craig, Head of Retail Investing at Charles Schwab, said the goal is for clients to conduct more of their financial lives in one place. The integration keeps crypto accessible without pulling investors away from their existing portfolios.

Schwab also confirmed plans to expand the platform over time. 

Additional cryptocurrencies will be added, along with deposit and withdrawal transfer capabilities for clients who already hold digital assets elsewhere.

Pricing, Custody, and the Infrastructure Behind Schwab Crypto

Schwab set its trading fee at 75 basis points on the dollar value of each trade. The company described this as among the lowest pricing in the industry. 

For a firm with Schwab’s scale and reputation, that pricing could attract investors currently using dedicated crypto exchanges.

Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB will serve as the custodian for client digital assets. Clients will hold a separate crypto account linked directly to their brokerage accounts. 

Paxos, an OCC-regulated blockchain infrastructure provider, will handle sub-custody and trade execution services.

Joe Vietri, Head of Digital Assets at Charles Schwab, called Paxos a strong partner for blockchain infrastructure. He highlighted their regulatory standing as a key factor. 

The arrangement gives the offering a federally supervised framework, which may appeal to cautious first-time crypto investors. 

Education and Support Form a Core Part of the Schwab Crypto Launch

Schwab is not just offering a trading feature. 

The company is packaging it with in-depth educational resources, including insights from the Schwab Center for Financial Research. 

Crypto-focused content through Schwab Coaching is also part of the launch offering.

A survey Schwab conducted of nearly 500 current and prospective crypto investors shaped this approach. Respondents ranked low transparent pricing, brand familiarity, and asset security as their top three priorities. 

Schwab’s launch directly addresses all three.

Clients also retain access to Schwab’s 24/7 support from tenured service professionals via phone or chat. Schwab noted it already leads in digital assets, with clients holding around 20% of spot crypto exchange-traded products. 

Schwab Crypto builds on that existing foothold.

The post Charles Schwab Launches Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading appeared first on Live Bitcoin News.