The post Charles Schwab to Launch Bitcoin, Ethereum Spot Trading in H1 2026 appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Charles Schwab, one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, plans to launch a spot cryptocurrency trading service for Bitcoin and Ethereum in the first half of 2026. The service will be offered through the firm’s banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, marking a significant step by a mainstream financial institution into direct crypto spot access. The development was first reported by BlockBeats on April 4, according to unconfirmed reports. However, the timeline aligns with earlier reporting from Reuters, which on December 3, 2025 cited CEO Rick Wurster outlining Schwab’s plan to offer spot crypto trading in the first half of 2026. Schwab’s official cryptocurrency page confirms that “Schwab Crypto is coming soon” and describes the planned account as a gateway to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum. The account will be offered specifically by Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, not through standard Schwab brokerage accounts. Schwab’s Bank-Subsidiary Route Sets It Apart A key structural detail is that Schwab will route spot crypto trading through its banking subsidiary rather than its brokerage arm. Clients cannot currently buy or sell individual cryptocurrencies through a standard Schwab brokerage account but will soon be able to apply for a separate Schwab Crypto account. Wurster described a phased rollout to Reuters: the product would first be tested with employees, then opened to a small group of clients, before becoming broadly available. This measured approach reflects the caution traditional financial institutions have applied when entering direct crypto trading, a pattern also visible in how U.S. brokerages have gradually expanded their crypto exposure over recent quarters. The bank-subsidiary model carries specific regulatory implications. Schwab’s disclosures note that cryptocurrencies held in Schwab Crypto accounts are not securities, are not protected by SIPC, are not FDIC-insured deposits, and may lose value. These disclaimers underscore the…

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Filed under: News - @ April 4, 2026 3:26 am