Charles Schwab Adds Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading
Clients can now trade major cryptocurrencies directly alongside their existing stock and ETF portfolios.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Investing
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Charles Schwab has completed its retail rollout for direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading across its platform. This update allows the firm's clients to hold cryptocurrency assets alongside their traditional stock and ETF portfolios.
Why it matters
The move enables millions of investors to consolidate digital assets within their existing brokerage accounts, potentially simplifying portfolio management. Schwab is diversifying its service offerings to capture revenue from the growing digital asset market.
The Charles Schwab platform manages $13.3 trillion in assets for 40 million accounts. The firm now integrates direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for this user base.
The players
Charles Schwab
A major brokerage firm providing custody for $13.3 trillion in assets and serving 40 million accounts through standard stock and ETF portfolios.
Paxos
A financial institution managing the cryptocurrency operations and regulatory compliance protocols for Charles Schwab.
The details
Charles Schwab manages this new cryptocurrency operation through a partnership with Paxos, ensuring the service aligns with existing custody and regulatory compliance standards. Investors can now integrate these digital assets directly into their accounts alongside standard equities and ETFs. The firm has projected plans to further expand its digital asset offerings to include Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink by the end of 2026.
Timeline
October 15, 2026: Charles Schwab completed the retail rollout for crypto trading.
End of 2026: Planned addition of Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink assets.
Money Landscape
This integration signals a major shift as large-scale brokerages incorporate digital assets into the traditional retail investment ecosystem. It follows a broader industry trend of expanding brokerage services beyond traditional stocks and bonds to include emerging asset classes.
Investors who use Charles Schwab can now access Bitcoin and Ethereum without moving funds to a separate crypto-specific exchange. You may want to review your overall portfolio allocation with a financial professional to determine if adding digital assets aligns with your long-term goals.
The takeaway
Direct access to crypto via a major brokerage platform offers a simplified way to diversify holdings, though it introduces new volatility factors to your total portfolio. Monitor your investment policy statement and discuss the risks of digital assets with a qualified financial professional.
What happens next
The firm plans to add Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink to its trading platform by the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more on managing varied asset classes within your portfolio, visit our Investing section.
More information
Review the full Charles Schwab fall business update for further details.
Live Poll
Do you trust traditional banks more than native exchanges for your cryptocurrency trading?
