Charles Schwab Enables Bitcoin & Ethereum Trading – A New Era for Crypto Investors
April 17, 2026- Charles Schwab officially announced the launch of direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading.
- The service will be open to around 46 million active brokerage accounts, at a competitive 0.75% fees.
- Bitcoin (BTC) has reached $75K, while ETH suffered a minor pullback after a whale liquidated 120K ETH.
Charles Schwab, a major American financial services company, officially rolled out trading Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) on its Schwab Crypto platform through the Charles Schwab Premier Bank.
This is a phased launch that will begin with an internal employee pilot. A client waitlist pilot and a deeper expansion throughout Q2, 2026, will follow it. The service is not currently available in New York and Louisiana.
Charles Schwab Introduces BTC and ETH Trading
Charles Schwab launched a new crypto trading platform, aiming to compete against rivals such as Robinhood. The company plans to integrate more cryptocurrencies and AI tools to cater to industry demand, while diversifying its revenue sources.
Currently, the financial institution records about $1.48 trillion in assets under management (AUM), and up to 46 million active brokerage accounts managed by 16,000 advisors.
Apart from the flagship crypto product, Charles Schwab released its Q1 2026 earnings report. Net revenue grew 16% year-over-year to $6.48 billion, slightly missing the $6.50 billion target. It caused a 7.73% decline in stocks (NYSE: SCHW) on the day, and the stock closed at $92.53.
Crypto and institution
Bitcoin reached $75K today, due to increased demand for spot ETF inflows and in anticipation of the US-Iran ceasefire. On the other hand, Ethereum traded near $2,357, marking a 0.75% decline due to heightened selling pressure after a big Ethereum whale sold off about $59 million, which is approximately 120,000 ETH in profit.
This launch places Charles Schwab as a major rival to Robinhood and others. Schwab Crypto charges a competitive fee 0.75% as compared to Fidelity Crypto’s 1%.
Currently, Robinhood has an edge as it offers over 15 cryptocurrencies. It also offers broader reach beyond the US – in the EU and Asia-Pacific, allowing external wallet transfers.
Conclusion
Charles Schwab is one of the largest brokerage firms in the world, with more than $11 trillion of assets under management (AUM). The firm’s move to introduce crypto trading and selling on its platform is considered to blur the line between the traditional financial industry and digital finance.
Apart from Charles Schwab, investment bank Morgan Stanley (NYSE:$MS) launched a new spot Bitcoin ETF, and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:$GS) announced that it filed with the SEC to launch the Goldman Sachs Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, its first proprietary crypto-linked fund.
In time, Schwab plans to add additional cryptocurrencies to the platform, as well as transfer capabilities for both deposits and withdrawals.
“With Schwab Crypto, investors can access familiar cryptocurrencies within an all‑in‑one investing and banking experience, backed by an ecosystem of education, tools, resources, and support so they can make informed decisions about how crypto might fit into their broader investing goals,” said Joe Vietri, Head of Digital Assets at Charles Schwab.
“Whether you’re new to crypto and looking for a firm you know and trust, or you already own digital assets, our goal is to be the destination of choice for retail investors who want to incorporate digital assets into their portfolios with confidence,” he added.
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