Charles Schwab has opened an early access sign-up for direct Bitcoin and Ether trading, taking a step beyond the crypto exposure it already offers through ETFs and related products. The change would allow clients to hold actual coins inside a regular brokerage account alongside stocks and ETFs, rather than gaining exposure only through market-linked instruments.
The rollout is set to happen in phases, beginning with internal testing before any broader release. Schwab’s chief executive said client demand is present, with investors wanting to keep traditional and digital assets in one place while using the protections and convenience associated with a mainstream brokerage.
For the industry, the significance lies less in immediate flow and more in distribution. If a firm of Schwab’s scale makes direct Bitcoin and Ether dealing a standard feature, it would increase competitive pressure on crypto-native exchanges by offering access through an established brokerage channel.
The service is not yet live for general trading, and the script is clear that this remains an early-list stage rather than a completed launch. Even so, it is presented as a signal that clearer US regulation is encouraging established financial institutions to move closer to crypto’s core market functions.