Charles Schwab Plans Spot Bitcoin (BTC) Trading in 1H 2026

Charles Schwab is preparing a spot crypto offering in the first half of 2026, starting with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The move follows crypto’s worst quarter since early 2018, with BTC falling roughly 22% YTD and losses reportedly reaching 34.6% in the quarter. Company sources pointed to a new page in Schwab’s “Investment Products” and a spokesperson confirmed the launch schedule. Sign-ups for updates and early access appear to be limited to US residents (excluding New York and Louisiana in the reported signup form). Schwab is expected to let clients both buy spot BTC/ETH and custody digital assets on its platform. Traders will likely watch for volatility as BTC trades in a tight $66,000–$70,000 range. Analysts cited weak price support, linking it to lower large-holder transfer activity and limited buying pressure. Broader market context: Schwab/TD Ameritrade clients can already access crypto exposure via US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs and CME Bitcoin futures, rather than direct coin trading. If Schwab launches true spot trading, it would add another major brokerage—alongside Fidelity and Robinhood—potentially shifting liquidity and retail participation during US market hours. On the corporate side, Schwab has also shown interest in stablecoins for on-chain transactions. Crypto traders should treat this as a catalysts-and-volatility story: clearer access paths for BTC, but near-term price action may still be dominated by liquidity conditions and positioning.