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Charles Schwab is experiencing a surge in participation from retail investors in its cryptocurrency offerings.
In a discussion with CNBC, CEO Rick Wurster stated that traffic to Schwab’s crypto platform has escalated by 90% compared to the previous year, indicating robust investor interest in Bitcoin ETFs, Bitcoin futures, and various crypto exchange-traded products.
Clients of Schwab currently possess approximately 20% of all crypto ETPs in the United States. Wurster highlighted that the firm is addressing this interest by offering a diverse range of crypto investment options and educational tools, merging digital access with traditional client assistance through phone calls and branch locations.
Charles Schwab will also introduce spot Bitcoin trading in the first half of 2026. CEO Rick Wurster disclosed this information during Schwab’s third-quarter earnings call, where the company announced $134.4 billion in net new assets, representing a 48% increase from the prior year.
Earlier this year, the company revealed intentions to provide Bitcoin and Ethereum trading, motivated by client interest, noting that many sought to consolidate their crypto assets with Schwab.
Wurster’s comments during Charles Schwab’s earnings call marked the initial occasion the bank established a tentative timeline on the initiative.
The move into crypto coincides with Schwab’s broader record-setting quarter: total client assets reached $11.59 trillion, a 17% rise year-over-year, while daily average trades soared by 30%.
The firm’s approach, Wurster explained, focuses on delivering both sophisticated trading platforms like ThinkorSwim and support for novice investors, making crypto approachable and comprehensible for a wider audience.
Traditional finance is venturing into bitcoin
Earlier this month, Morgan Stanley published a report advising clients to allocate a maximum of 2% to 4% of their portfolios to crypto, predominantly bitcoin, based on risk evaluations. The report characterized bitcoin as a finite asset similar to digital gold and proposed that it could play a meaningful role in diversified strategies.
It suggested regular portfolio rebalancing, ideally on a quarterly basis, and gaining exposure through exchange-traded products to manage fluctuations.
This guidance followed the firm’s enhancement of digital asset access via E*Trade and coincided with bitcoin reaching a new peak of approximately $126,200.
Earlier this week, U.S. Bank declared the establishment of their new Digital Assets and Money Movement division, aiming “to expedite the development of and boost revenue from emerging digital products and services such as stablecoin issuance, cryptocurrency custody, asset tokenization, and digital money movement.”
Additionally, institutional investments in Bitcoin ETFs increased to $870.7 million in Q3 2025, up $117.3 million from the last quarter.
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