Charles Schwab Advances Crypto Trading and Custody Expansion

TLDR

• Charles Schwab launched direct spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for retail clients in May 2026.
• The company charges a 0.75 percent transaction fee with no spread through its banking infrastructure.
• Schwab plans to introduce crypto trading, transfers, and custody for financial advisors by mid-2027.
• The system will allow in-kind transfers of client crypto assets from external platforms into Schwab custody.
• Schwab built its own transaction and record-keeping ledger instead of relying on third-party providers.

Charles Schwab has expanded its digital asset strategy by outlining plans to extend crypto trading and custody services to financial advisors by 2027.

According to Yahoo Finance, the firm already oversees more than $12 trillion in client assets, placing its latest crypto move within a large existing wealth network. The report notes that Schwab introduced direct spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum in May 2026, moving beyond earlier exposure through exchange-traded funds and futures.

Charles Schwab Expands Crypto Trading Across Retail Platforms

Within its retail business, Charles Schwab has begun offering spot crypto trading through its Thinkorswim platform. Company disclosures show the service is gradually extending to Schwab.com and its mobile application.

The firm confirmed that transactions run through Charles Schwab Premier Bank, with a fixed fee of 0.75 percent and no added spread. According to the company’s structure, this pricing approach is designed to compete with fee models used by established crypto exchanges.

Meanwhile, Jalina Kerr of Schwab Advisor Services said the firm is preparing a mid-2027 rollout for independent advisors. Kerr stated that the timeline includes trading, transfers, and custody within Schwab’s existing advisor network, though she noted that the schedule could still change.

In explaining the product design, Kerr said the system will allow in-kind transfers of digital assets. This means advisors can move client holdings from external wallets or exchanges directly into Schwab’s custody framework without liquidation.

Such functionality addresses a long-standing issue identified by wealth managers. Client assets are often spread across multiple platforms, making reporting and portfolio tracking difficult under traditional systems.

Custody Network Size Raises Stakes

At the same time, Schwab’s advisor custody platform carries significant scale. Independent registered investment advisors using the network already manage large pools of capital, according to company data.

Bringing crypto into this system creates a path for those assets to enter regulated custody environments, a development that industry participants have monitored closely since institutional interest in digital assets increased.

Rather than sourcing external technology, Schwab’s internal teams have built a proprietary transaction and record-keeping ledger. The company said this approach reduces reliance on third-party vendors and aligns with its custody standards.

Separately, Schwab confirmed it is reviewing developments tied to tokenized real-world assets. Internal research teams have examined partnerships between traditional exchanges and blockchain platforms that enable on-chain settlement of equities, though no formal agreements have been announced.

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