Charles Schwab to Launch Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading Amid Surging Demand

CEO Rick Wurster says clients want to consolidate crypto holdings alongside traditional investments
Charles Schwab is preparing to roll out spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum, marking a major move to integrate crypto into its mainstream investment platform. CEO Rick Wurster confirmed the plans in a CNBC interview, stating the firm aims to meet growing demand from clients eager to manage both digital and traditional assets in one place.
Wurster noted that while Schwab clients already own more than 20% of the crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) market, crypto still represents only a small slice of their overall portfolios—around $25 billion out of $10.8 trillion in total assets. “We anticipate launching Bitcoin and Ether sometime soon,” he said. “We think that will be an acceleration of our growth.”
According to Wurster, many Schwab users currently keep nearly all of their wealth with the firm but only a fraction of their crypto, often with digital-native exchanges. “They really want to bring it back to Schwab because they trust us,” he said.

Schwab enters race to rival Coinbase with native crypto trading
Wurster confirmed Schwab is positioning itself as a competitor to established exchanges like Coinbase. “If they’re buying their crypto at Coinbase, we would love to see them bring their crypto back to Schwab,” he said.
A 2026 launch window has been cited previously, though client demand may accelerate that timeline. Schwab has steadily increased its crypto offerings, including Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, mixed funds, and options, following clearer U.S. regulatory guidance in 2025 that allowed banks to resume crypto services.
Institutional appetite for crypto keeps growing
A March survey by Coinbase and EY-Parthenon revealed that 83% of institutional investors plan to increase crypto allocations in 2025, with many expanding beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum into altcoins like XRP and Solana.
Fireblocks also reported in May that 90% of institutions are exploring stablecoin use, with nearly half already using them for payments—highlighting a broad institutional shift toward integrating digital assets into traditional financial strategies.