Schwab launches Bitcoin, Ethereum trading at 75 bps

Charles Schwab announced the launch of Schwab Crypto, a platform that will offer U.S. brokerage clients spot trading in bitcoin and ethereum. The firm said the service will roll out in phases starting in the coming weeks.

Clients will trade the two tokens through a separate crypto account linked to their existing Schwab brokerage relationships. The crypto account will be custodied by Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB. Paxos, an OCC-regulated blockchain infrastructure provider, will handle sub‑custody and trade execution.

Trading will be available on Schwab.com, the Schwab Mobile app and the thinkorswim platform. Schwab plans to provide 24/7 phone and chat support for crypto account holders.

Schwab set the fee at 75 basis points (0.75%) per trade for spot bitcoin and ethereum. The company characterized that pricing as among the lowest for direct crypto trading at a major brokerage.

The firm intends to expand the offering to additional cryptocurrencies and to add transfer capabilities for deposits and withdrawals so clients can move existing digital asset holdings into Schwab.

Schwab said bitcoin and ethereum together account for about three-quarters of total crypto market capitalization. The company also reported that Schwab clients hold roughly 20% of spot crypto exchange-traded products and already have access to spot crypto ETPs, crypto futures, options on spot crypto ETPs and crypto-related mutual funds.

A survey of 460 current and prospective crypto investors, conducted July through September 2025, found that low and transparent pricing, brand familiarity and confidence in asset security were the top factors in choosing a crypto provider.

Jonathan Craig, head of retail investing at Charles Schwab, said, “Clients have made it clear they want to do more of their financial lives at Schwab.” Joe Vietri, head of digital assets at Charles Schwab, described Paxos as “a strong partner given its regulatory standing and digital asset expertise.”