Charles Schwab Bets Big: Bitcoin & Ethereum Trading Coming 2026 in Watershed Move

Wall Street's old guard finally caves to crypto demand.

Schwab joins the fray—but why the 12-month wait?

Institutional adoption hits tipping point as traditional finance scrambles to stay relevant.

One cynical take: They needed 3 years to teach their compliance team what a blockchain is.

TLDR

• Charles Schwab will introduce Bitcoin and Ethereum spot trading in the first half of 2026, with a gradual rollout.
• The company will begin testing the new service with employees before extending it to a small group of clients.
• Schwab plans to expand access to Bitcoin and Ethereum trading in phases, refining the offering during each stage.
• CEO Rick Wurster expressed openness to mergers and acquisitions, including potential deals in the crypto space.
• Pricing for Schwab’s crypto trading remains a key concern, with analysts suggesting fees below 50 basis points for competitiveness.

Charles Schwab plans to introduce spot trading for Bitcoin and ethereum in the first half of 2026, as confirmed by CEO Rick Wurster. The company will initially test the product with employees before rolling it out to a small group of clients. Schwab’s phased approach aims to gradually expand access to these digital assets.

Charles Schwab to Start with Internal Trials

Charles Schwab will begin its Bitcoin and Ethereum spot trading plans with internal trials. These trials will help refine the product before expanding it to a select group of clients. CEO Rick Wurster mentioned, “The firm will start with employees and then extend the testing to a limited client base.”

Once the initial phase is completed, Schwab intends to expand access to the new product gradually. This approach allows for better control and adjustment of the offering. The firm plans to refine the service before offering it to the broader market.

Schwab Explores Mergers and Acquisitions, Including in Crypto

Charles Schwab is also open to future mergers and acquisitions, especially those that would enhance client offerings. Wurster stated that Schwab is monitoring the deal-making landscape for opportunities that create value at scale. However, when asked about acquisitions in the crypto space, Wurster clarified that Schwab would only consider purchases if the conditions are right.

He emphasized that any crypto acquisition WOULD need to align with the company’s long-term strategy and valuation expectations. While Schwab has not named any specific companies, its interest in the space is clear. Wurster did not provide further details on whether talks with any crypto firms are underway.

Concerns Over Pricing of Schwab’s Bitcoin Trading

Despite Schwab’s plans to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum trading, pricing remains a key issue. Eric Balchunas, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg, pointed out that Schwab offers free stock and ETF trading, raising questions about its pricing strategy for crypto. He suggested that Schwab might have to keep fees below 50 basis points to remain competitive, especially in the face of crypto exchanges.

We knew this was coming, big q tho: What is the fee? Schwab has free ETF and stock trading. If crypto also free, look out $COIN. Hell, anything under 50bps is big threat to crypto exchanges IMO. On flip, ETFs are already free to trade and have 1-2bp spread so pretty much imposs… https://t.co/FVR79Wx0mH

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) December 3, 2025

Schwab has yet to reveal exact details about its fee structure for cryptocurrency trading. Balchunas highlighted that while crypto ETFs have tighter spreads, they still carry higher expense ratios. These factors could play a significant role in shaping Schwab’s strategy as it enters the digital currency market.

Charles Schwab’s expansion into cryptocurrency trading marks a significant step for the $12 trillion firm. The company continues to evaluate opportunities to broaden its service offerings, especially as client demand for diverse investment options grows.