Charles Schwab Brings Spot Crypto Trading to Millions of US Brokerage Clients
Charles Schwab is rolling out direct bitcoin and ethereum trading to retail clients through a new offering called Schwab Crypto, priced at 75 basis points per trade.
Key Takeaways:
- Charles Schwab launches Schwab Crypto with bitcoin and ethereum trading at 75 basis points per trade.
- Paxos, an OCC-regulated provider, handles sub-custody and execution for Schwab’s new crypto platform.
- Schwab plans to add more cryptocurrencies and transfer capabilities beyond the initial phased rollout in 2026.
Schwab Crypto Platform to Offer Bitcoin and Ethereum Alongside Traditional Investments
The Westlake, Texas-based brokerage announced the phased launch this week, sharing the news with Bitcoin.com News, giving clients access to spot cryptocurrency trading within the same accounts they use for stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The rollout begins in the coming weeks.
Jonathan Craig, Head of Retail Investing at Charles Schwab, said clients have made it clear they want to do more of their financial lives at Schwab. The new platform is designed to let them trade crypto alongside other holdings without switching firms.
Schwab surveyed 460 current and prospective crypto investors between July and September 2025. Three factors stood out when choosing a crypto trading firm: low and transparent pricing, brand familiarity, and confidence that assets would be kept secure.
At launch, Schwab Crypto will support bitcoin and ethereum trading. Together, those two assets represent approximately three-quarters of the total crypto market capitalization, according to the company.
Clients will access Schwab Crypto through a separate crypto account linked to their existing brokerage accounts. The account will be offered through Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, which will serve as custodian for clients’ digital assets.
Paxos, an OCC-regulated blockchain infrastructure provider, will handle sub-custody and trade execution. Joe Vietri, Head of Digital Assets at Charles Schwab, described Paxos as a strong partner given its regulatory standing and digital asset expertise.
Trading will be available on Schwab.com, the Schwab Mobile app, and thinkorswim, the firm’s trading platform. Clients will also have access to 24/7 phone and chat support from Schwab service professionals.
Schwab plans to expand the platform over time. The company said it intends to add more cryptocurrencies and introduce transfer capabilities for deposits and withdrawals, which would allow clients to move existing digital asset holdings to Schwab.
The firm said it is already a significant presence in the digital assets space. Schwab clients currently hold approximately 20% of spot crypto exchange-traded products. Existing access options include spot crypto ETPs, crypto futures, options on spot crypto ETPs, and crypto-related mutual funds.
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Vietri said the goal is to give investors, whether new to crypto or already holding digital assets, a single destination for incorporating those positions into a broader portfolio.
Schwab’s pricing at 75 basis points is positioned as among the lowest in the industry for direct crypto trading at a major brokerage.
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