Schwab Enables Retail Crypto Trading for 11M Clients

- Charles Schwab now offers direct Bitcoin and Ether trading for retail investors alongside stocks and ETFs in a single brokerage account - Rollout positions crypto in mainstream portfolios but excludes residents of New York and Louisiana under regulatory constraints 2026-05-13 On May 13, 2026, Cointelegraph reported that Charles Schwab began offering direct Bitcoin and Ether trading to select U.S. retail clients. This move marks a major step in integrating digital assets with traditional brokerage portfolios, and it allows users to trade cryptocurrencies through their regular brokerage interface for a transaction fee of 75 basis points per trade. As a result, the new service removes the previous limitations of only ETF, futures, or fund-based crypto exposure. The service is initially available to a group of clients; however, it excludes residents in New York and Louisiana due to regulatory restrictions. According to Cointelegraph on May 13, 2026, Schwab oversees more than $11 trillion in client assets, and its move signals a shift toward mainstream crypto adoption by enabling millions of retail investors to access digital assets alongside stocks and ETFs. This integration follows rival pilots by major financial firms like Morgan Stanley and highlights a competitive push to normalize crypto as part of the modern investment mix. Cointelegraph also reported on May 13, 2026, that, as of 22:09 UTC, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $79,212.08 and Ethereum (ETH) at $2,250.48, with both assets posting modest declines. These price levels frame Schwab’s launch amid ongoing crypto market activity and sustained investor demand for direct access.