Charles Schwab is stepping into the crypto game. The brokerage giant plans to launch spot Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ethereum ($ETH) trading in the first half of 2026.

This is big. With $11.9 trillion in client assets, Schwab brings massive scale to the space. Retail and institutional investors can now trade crypto alongside stocks and bonds in one platform.

Schwab already offers crypto ETFs and Bitcoin futures. Now they're going direct with a "Schwab Crypto" account via Charles Schwab Premier Bank. They've opened a waitlist for early access.

The move puts pressure on crypto-native exchanges. Why use multiple platforms when you can trade everything in one place? Schwab's CEO Rick Wurster said this responds to client demand for unified investing.

This legitimizes crypto further in traditional finance. When a firm this size commits, it signals crypto is here to stay as an asset class.

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