Charles Schwab Dives Into Crypto: Bitcoin & Ethereum Trading Launch Imminent – Stablecoins Next?
Wall Street's sleeping giant just woke up—and it's holding a crypto ledger.
Charles Schwab joins the institutional crypto rush with plans to roll out Bitcoin and Ethereum trading, signaling a seismic shift in traditional finance's cold war with digital assets.
The 800-pound gorilla plays catch-up
While crypto-native platforms like Coinbase hit $100B valuations, Schwab's move reeks of defensive strategy—a 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' pivot after years of dismissing decentralized finance as a passing fad.
Stablecoin ambitions reveal endgame
The brokerage's exploratory stablecoin plans suggest they've finally decoded crypto's killer app: moving money faster than their creaky ACH system can process a $9.95 trade commission.
Wall Street's crypto conversion remains incomplete until they stop treating blockchain as just another NASDAQ feed—but for an industry that took 30 years to eliminate paper certificates, this counts as lightning speed.
- Charles Schwab will launch Bitcoin and Ethereum trading, directly competing with Coinbase.
- CEO Rick Wurster confirms Schwab plans to develop a stablecoin amid the GENIUS Act push.
- Schwab stock hits record high as Q2 earnings surge 60% and crypto product rollout gains pace.
Charles Schwab CEO Rick Wurster announced in an interview on CNBC on 18 July that the brokerage would soon introduce spot trading of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). This move will allow the company to compete with leading U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges like Coinbase.
Wurster clarified that the decision is client-driven. He cited that many Schwab clients are seeking to combine their digital assets with traditional holdings such as equities and bonds. “Our clients are invested in crypto today,” Wurster stated. “They might hold a percent or 2% at some digital native firm… and they really want to bring it back to Schwab.”
According to Wurster, Schwab clients currently hold over 20% of all crypto exchange-traded products in the market, amounting to approximately $25 billion out of Schwab’s $10.8 trillion in total client assets. Moreover, it indicates an increased interest by traditional investors in digital assets.
Charles Schwab CEO tells CNBC they anticipate launching spot BTC & eth trading “sometime soon”…
Says clients want crypto to “sit alongside their other assets” at Schwab.
Would compete directly w/ Coinbase.
Also said Schwab clients hold over 20% of total assets in crypto ETFs.
Wurster added that the company will also introduce spot Bitcoin and ethereum ETFs, stating that such products will enable the company to meet an increasing demand for regulated access to crypto exposure.
In the past, Schwab has been cautiously expanding its approach to its crypto strategy. However, the growing demand by its customers and regulatory developments have prompted it to speed up its timeline.
Client Demand and Platform Integration Drive Strategy
Direct trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum on Charles Schwab is part of an increasing demand for unified asset management. Wurster pointed out that many clients would like to see all of their holdings, including stocks, crypto, and cash, on the same platform. Schwab’s strategy is designed to offer that convenience while maintaining trusted custody standards.
With the inclusion of direct trading, Charles Schwab aims to eliminate the requirement to rely on a third-party crypto platform. “If they’re buying their crypto at Coinbase, we WOULD love to see them bring their crypto back to Schwab,” Wurster said. The new service will serve as a growth driver by encouraging clients to shift digital asset balances currently held externally.
Wurster did not provide a firm launch date or plan for its architecture, but it was noted that Schwab would apply the same level of custody standards used for traditional securities.
Moreover, the company has previously provided crypto exposure in the FORM of exchange-traded products, but this will be the first time that it is offering spot crypto trading.
Regulatory Timing, Stablecoin Plans, and Market Positioning
The announcement follows increased regulatory activity in the U.S., with President Donald TRUMP expected to sign the GENIUS Act which would provide a framework for regulating stablecoins. Wurster acknowledged the shift, stating, “Stablecoins are likely to play a role in transacting on blockchains and that’s something we do want to be able to offer.”
In the latest earnings call, the CEO stated, “We will have a stablecoin at some point.” Charles Schwab is also exploring partnerships, in-house solutions and the use of existing blockchain infrastructure as development options.
Charles Schwab’s interest in expanding its crypto offering also comes as global financial institutions, including Standard Chartered, increase institutional access to crypto.
The London-based bank launched USD-paired BTC and ETH spot trading for asset managers earlier this week. This company follows Citigroup and JPMorgan, which also revealed their interest in launching stablecoins.
Earnings Surge and Market Response to Charles Schwab’s Expansion
Notably, Schwab’s decision is also timely, as the company posted good performance in Q2 2025. Its net income increased almost 60% annually to above $2 billion, whereas its revenue jumped to over $5.8 billion, nearly 25% year over year. The increased trading volumes and asset management fees led to these profits.
On Friday, Charles Schwab shares hit a record level as investors responded positively to profits and the opportunity to invest in crypto. At the same time, Coinbase shares also surged to a new all-time high, signifying how the markets react to rising crypto adoption.
Furthermore, Spot crypto trading volumes dropped 22% in Q2 2025 falling to $3.6 trillion according to TokenInsight.
However, Bitcoin still gained 25% during the quarter, driven by rising institutional inflows. Ether ETFs also saw strong performance, with $726.74 million in net inflows recorded in a single day.
