Charles Schwab Unveils 24/7 Crypto Futures Trading Target

Charles Schwab (SCHW) has unveiled a sweeping expansion of its crypto services, launching 24/7 trading for select crypto futures on its thinkorswim platform while simultaneously opening spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum to its 39 million retail accounts via the new Schwab Crypto service. The firm confirmed that retail spot transactions will run through Charles Schwab Premier Bank at a fixed fee of 0.75 percent with no added spread, putting the $12 trillion custody giant in direct competition with COIN and HOOD. For the firm's advisor channel, Schwab has set a mid-2027 target to extend spot crypto trading, transfers, and custody to its registered investment advisor network, with the system designed to allow in-kind transfers so clients can move holdings from external wallets directly into Schwab's custody framework without liquidation.

The move is strategically significant because Schwab manages roughly $12 trillion in client assets and has historically been cautious about digital assets. The phased approach, retail spot in mid-2026 and advisor custody by mid-2027, reflects the regulatory and operational complexity of integrating crypto into a traditional brokerage infrastructure. Cboe Global Markets had earlier announced near-24-hour trading to redefine its own competitive positioning, and the SEC's approval of a 23-hour trading exchange signals that regulators are broadly moving toward around-the-clock market access. For Schwab, bringing crypto directly onto its unified dashboard alongside stocks and bonds reduces friction for retail investors who previously had to move assets to a separate exchange.

Investors watching SCHW should monitor several near-term signposts: the pace of retail adoption during the initial rollout, whether Schwab expands the coin selection beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum as planned, and how the mid-2027 advisor timeline holds up given the regulatory scrutiny that digital asset custody attracts . A successful crypto buildout could deepen client wallet share and add a fee stream that is relatively uncorrelated with Schwab's core rate-sensitive revenue, which has been pressured by the interest rate cycle. Execution risk remains, however, given that crypto infrastructure demands 24/7 operational resilience that differs materially from Schwab's traditional brokerage stack.

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