Charles Schwab Drives Bitcoin And Ethereum Into Mainstream Investing

By Onyi | Edited By Messam Raza,April 17, 2026, 12:30 PM
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Charles Schwab has made a major step towards making crypto trading available for its users. The brokerage firm is preparing to launch direct trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to a recent announcement. This new offering, called Schwab Crypto, is expected to come out in the next few weeks and will allow clients to buy and sell digital assets alongside their traditional investments.

This new development marks a major shift as Schwab is considered one of the world’s largest financial institutions, and it currently manages over $11 trillion in client assets. For years, firms like Schwab stayed cautious about crypto, but due to the growing client demand and a more regulatory environment the firm is now pushing them into action.

Schwab’s CEO, Rick Wurster, has previously noted that many clients already hold a small portion of their wealth in crypto through external platforms. Now, the company aims to bring those assets back under its own ecosystem, offering users a more trusted and integrated experience.

Rick Wurster, CEO Charles Schwab, Source: Charles Schwab

The move places Charles Schwab in direct competition with platforms like Robinhood and Coinbase, both of which have built strong reputations among younger investors. Unlike these platforms, Schwab is targeting clients who already use its services for stocks, retirement accounts, and wealth management.

Also Read: Charles Schwab Joins Crypto Market, Plans Trading Platform for 2026

At the same time, crypto-native companies are not standing still. Coinbase and Kraken are expanding into stock trading, showing that the lines between traditional finance and crypto are quickly disappearing.

Schwab plans to charge a 0.75% fee per crypto transaction. This positions it between competitors like Fidelity Investments, which charges around 1%, and Robinhood, which offers lower fees but varies depending on the trade. Coinbase, on the other hand, can charge significantly higher fees for retail users.

How Other Traditional Finance Influenced Charles Schwab Entry into Crypto

Schwab’s move is part of a broader trend across Wall Street. Major institutions are no longer experimenting with crypto they are actively building products around it.

Morgan Stanley recently launched a spot bitcoin ETF, while Goldman Sachs is working on a bitcoin income ETF. Meanwhile, Fidelity has already established itself as an early leader by offering crypto trading and even allowing bitcoin in retirement accounts.

This growing institutional involvement is changing how crypto is perceived. What was once seen as a risky, fringe asset is now becoming a standard part of diversified portfolios.

At the same time, this shift also introduces new risks and competition. Traditional firms must now balance innovation with regulation, while crypto-native platforms must defend their dominance as legacy players enter the space. Schwab’s entry could accelerate adoption even further, especially among conservative investors who trust established financial brands more than newer crypto platforms.

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