Charles Schwab Will Soon Allow Direct Bitcoin and Ether Trading

Charles Schwab is set to enable spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum, allowing clients to manage both crypto and traditional assets in one place, according to CEO Rick Wurster.

Charles Schwab to Launch Spot for Bitcoin and Ethereum

Clients will soon be able to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside traditional assets, as Charles Schwab prepares to launch spot crypto trading.

In a CNBC interview, CEO Rick Wurster said Schwab clients already hold over 20% of the crypto ETP market. But crypto still makes up a small part, around $25 billion, of the company’s $10.8 trillion in client assets.

Wurster added that clients trust Schwab to manage their wealth and want to bring more of their crypto holdings to the platform. The upcoming launch is a strategic step to drive further growth in response to increasing investor interest.

Schwab Steps Up to Beat Coinbase at Its Own Game

Charles Schwab is planning to offer spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum to compete with platforms like Coinbase. CEO Rick Wurster said he hopes clients who buy crypto on Coinbase will move those assets to Schwab.

Earlier this year, Wurster said Schwab plans to launch its spot Bitcoin trading service in April 2026. He points to a 400% jump in traffic to Schwab’s crypto website as proof that investors have interest in digital assets.

The company has become more active in crypto as U.S. rules have become clearer. In 2025, major regulators like the OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve removed restrictions that were stopping banks from offering crypto services like custody and trading.

Following the regulatory approval, Schwab added Bitcoin and Ether ETFs to its platform and now offers a wide range of crypto-linked products, including mixed ETFs, mutual funds, and Bitcoin options.

Big Investors Plan to Buy More Crypto

A March survey by Coinbase and EY-Parthenon found that 83% of big investors plan to buy more crypto in 2025, with many already putting money into altcoins besides Bitcoin and Ether.

Among the top choices are XRP and Solana, which are identified as the favorite assets by respondents. The findings also showed that a majority of investors expect to allocate 5% or more of their portfolios to crypto this year.

Similarly, a May report by Fireblocks found that 90% of institutional firms are either using or exploring stablecoins, with nearly half already using them for payments.