Charles Schwab Launches Waitlist for Direct Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading, Plans Pilot in Q2

Odaily News Charles Schwab announced that its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Premier Bank, will offer direct trading services for Bitcoin and Ethereum through Schwab Crypto accounts. CEO Rick Wurster stated that the service is planned to begin limited testing in the second quarter of 2026 and officially launch in the first half of the year. The waitlist is now open, with initial service coverage including most of the United States except for New York and Louisiana. Users must hold a Charles Schwab brokerage account to apply, and the service will not support external cryptocurrency deposits or withdrawals in its initial phase. As of February, Charles Schwab's total assets under management reached $12.22 trillion, with 38.9 million active brokerage accounts.