$12T Charles Schwab to Launch Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading in Early 2026, CEO Confirms

Charles Schwab plans to add spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum in the first half of 2026, CEO Rick Wurster said on Wednesday at the Reuters Next conference in New York. He said the firm will test the product with employees and then a small group of clients. 

Staged Crypto Rollout and Deal-Making Focus

The rollout will be staged before it reaches all investors, according to Wurster. Schwab will start with internal trials. Access will then expand in steps, beginning with a limited client pilot.

Schwab is also preparing for more dealmaking, Wurster said. He told Reuters the firm will keep an eye on mergers and acquisitions. The deal can add capabilities that appeal to clients and create value at scale. 

When asked about acquisitions in crypto, Wurster signaled openness but set conditions. He said Schwab would consider buying a crypto company if the opportunity is right and the price is right. Wurster did not name any specific firm or say talks are underway.

Spot Bitcoin Pricing in Focus

The planned launch of spot Bitcoin trading raised concerns about pricing. Eric Balchunas, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg, flagged fees as the key issue for Schwab’s spot Bitcoin plan. 

He noted Schwab already offers free trading for stocks and ETFs. Balchunas said pricing below 50 basis points could pressure crypto exchanges, in his view. He also pointed to crypto ETFs, which can trade with tight spreads, though they still carry expense ratios.

Schwab last month announced it would buy private shares platform Forge Global for $660 million. Wurster linked the deal to investor demand for access to pre-IPO companies. The acquisition is aimed at expanding what Schwab clients can trade beyond public markets. 

Wurster also described stronger activity late in the year. He said Schwab’s daily average trades were higher in the fourth quarter than in the rest of 2025. Client balances rose beyond what the firm might have hoped for after market gains. 

In October, Schwab reported third-quarter profit that topped expectations. Client assets hit a record, and trading revenue surged.