Charles Schwab Targets April 2026 for Launch of Spot Bitcoin Trading Services

Charles Schwab Corp is preparing to enter the spot Bitcoin trading market, with CEO Rick Wurster indicating a potential launch as early as April 2026.Speaking to , Wurster highlighted a 400% surge in traffic to Schwab’s crypto-related web pages as clear evidence of investor interest in digital assets.“Our expectation is that with the changing regulatory environment, we are hopeful and likely to be able to launch direct spot crypto,” he said.“Our goal is to do that in the next 12 months, and we are on a great path to be able to do that.” New Schwab CEO Signals Strong Commitment to Expanding Crypto ServicesWurster, who took over as CEO in 2025, has consistently expressed interest in expanding Schwab’s digital asset offerings.In a November 2024 interview , he noted that the firm was eager to offer direct crypto services but was awaiting clearer regulatory guidance before moving forward.Following Donald Trump’s re-election in late 2024, Wurster cited optimism that the new administration would create a more favorable regulatory landscape for digital assets.The shift could finally enable Schwab to roll out direct trading services, long requested by its client base.In January 2025, Schwab deepened its crypto push by partnering with Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) to support the launch of “Truth.Fi,” a platform combining traditional financial services with cryptocurrency offerings.Charles Schwab CEO: "I have not bought crypto, and now I feel silly."“We will get into spot crypto” Schwab managers +$9 TRILLION 👀 — Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) The initiative aims to present an alternative to legacy banking, catering to users concerned about financial censorship and data privacy.TMTG CEO and White House advisor Devin Nunes described Truth.Fi as a solution for Americans worried about “debanking, censorship, and privacy violations” by mainstream tech and financial institutions.While Wurster has admitted he personally does not own any crypto—saying he felt “silly” for not investing earlier—his leadership signals Schwab’s intent to play a larger role in the evolving digital finance ecosystem.Public Companies Boost Bitcoin Holdings by 16% in Q1 2025Publicly traded companies increased their Bitcoin holdings by 16.1% in the first quarter of 2025, signaling continued institutional interest in the leading cryptocurrency despite market volatility.According to crypto asset manager Bitwise, total corporate Bitcoin holdings climbed to approximately 688,000 BTC by the end of Q1, with companies adding 95,431 BTC over the three-month period.Bitwise reported the combined value of these holdings reached $56.7 billion, based on a Q1 closing price of $82,445 per Bitcoin—representing a 2.2% increase in value.The number of public companies with Bitcoin on their balance sheets also rose, from 67 to 79, with 12 firms making their first Bitcoin purchases during the quarter.The adoption of Bitcoin has also found momentum statewide in the U.S.According to data from Bitcoin Law, 47 Bitcoin reserve bills have been introduced across 26 states, with 41 currently active.Last week, Arizona’s Strategic Digital Assets Reserve Bill (SB 1373) passed the House Committee of the Whole and now awaits one final vote before heading to Governor Katie Hobbs for approval.