Charles Schwab Launches Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading

Charles Schwab has launched its Schwab Crypto platform, allowing retail clients to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum directly. This significant step marks a shift from the previous offerings of indirect investment through ETFs and derivatives.

The rollout begins with a select group of clients who can now manage these cryptocurrencies alongside their other investments. Each client must set up a dedicated account for trading, with Charles Schwab Premier Bank serving as custodian and Paxos overseeing trade execution.

Trades will incur a fee of 0.75%, and the service is currently not available in New York and Louisiana. Additionally, the platform won’t be accessible to all client types.

As of March 2026, Charles Schwab's assets under management totaled $11.77 trillion, with 39.1 million active brokerage accounts. In its latest financial report, the company posted a 38% year-over-year increase in net income, reaching $2.6 billion, while revenues grew by 16% to $6.48 billion.