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Charles Schwab will launch bitcoin and ethereum trading in the first half of 2026, CEO Rick Wurster told financial advisers this week, bringing crypto to one of America’s largest brokerages with $11 trillion in client assets.
The trading feature will first appear on Thinkorswim, Schwab’s advanced trading platform, followed by Schwab.com and the company’s mobile app. The move makes Schwab which manages roughly $11 trillion in client assets as one of the largest U.S. brokerages to directly enter the crypto market.
“We want to do it thoughtfully. We want to be able to have our own books and records and things like that. That is a completely new build, and we’ve got a group of technologists working on that,” said Rick Wurster, CEO of Charles Schwab.
The Charles Schwab crypto initiative comes amid growing regulatory clarity in the United States. Agencies such as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have affirmed that banks and financial institutions can provide crypto trading, custody, and stablecoin services without needing special authorization as long as they comply with established risk management practices.
Wurster emphasized that no legal or regulatory barriers currently prevent Schwab from moving forward.
“There’s nothing from a regulatory standpoint stopping us,” he said, noting that the company’s focus is on building a compliant, scalable infrastructure.
Industry experts agree that the Charles Schwab crypto initiative benefits from a more favorable policy environment.
Ric Edelman, CEO of the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals, who is advising Schwab, said further clarity is expected in the coming months.
“We’re likely to see new legislation that completes the picture, enabling financial institutions, custodians, and wealth managers to engage more confidently,” Edelman explained.
Similarly, Tyrone V. Toss Jr., financial consultant at 401 Financial, described the rollout as “on track,” while acknowledging industry nervousness about operational readiness. “Ensuring seamless technology and compliance integration is key,” Toss said.
Unlike other exchanges that court speculative activity, the Charles Schwab crypto initiative will focus exclusively on Bitcoin and Ethereum, avoiding memecoins and other high-volatility tokens. Wurster confirmed that the company will not extend services to “meme-based” assets, leaving that segment to more risk-tolerant competitors.
Instead, Schwab aims to provide educational resources, research tools, and investor safeguards to help clients navigate crypto as an emerging asset class. The company said it would leverage its existing infrastructure to ensure a secure, compliant, and transparent trading experience which is a move designed to appeal to mainstream investors wary of unregulated exchanges.
With its deep liquidity, trusted reputation, and regulated platforms, the Charles Schwab crypto initiative could bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.
“Clients want convenience as they want their crypto holdings managed with the same confidence as their equities and bonds,” Wurster added.
The Charles Schwab crypto initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize Schwab’s financial ecosystem through its Advisor Services division. Wurster revealed that the company is expanding support for over 16,000 RIA firms, integrating lending, alternative investments, and institutional funds from nearly 60 managers are all offered with no transaction fees.
The firm recently launched Advisor ProDirect, a platform designed to assist independent advisers, and integrated OpenArc in September marking what Wurster called “the largest adviser transition in industry history.”
“Schwab’s new crypto offering will be a strong differentiator,” Edelman said. “It will allow clients to manage digital and traditional assets under one roof, aligning perfectly with the firm’s strategy of long-term client empowerment.”
Analysts believe the Charles Schwab crypto initiative could accelerate mainstream adoption of digital assets by merging traditional financial security with blockchain accessibility. The combination of trust, scale, and simplicity may reshape how investors interact with crypto markets.
As Schwab prepares for its 2026 rollout, the Charles Schwab crypto initiative reflects a turning point in U.S. finance is one where legacy institutions are no longer on the sidelines. By prioritizing compliance, investor protection, and infrastructure readiness, Schwab’s entry could serve as a blueprint for other brokerages eyeing the digital frontier.
The initiative underscores the convergence of traditional finance and decentralized technology, signaling that crypto is no longer a niche investment but a growing pillar of global wealth management.
