Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) is rolling out Schwab Crypto, giving its 39 million active brokerage account holders access to Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) trading for the first time.



<h3>The Phased Launch</h3>



Schwab Crypto will be introduced in phases over the coming weeks, confirming a previously stated timeline for a second-quarter launch. 



Clients will be able to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum through dedicated crypto accounts linked to their traditional Schwab brokerage accounts.



Access to spot trading is a big step up from Schwab’s previous offerings of indirect crypto exposure via exchange-traded funds and derivatives. Schwab will charge 75 basis points per transaction.



Charles Schwab will offer the crypto accounts through its Premier Bank and act as custodian, while Paxos will handle trade execution.



<h3>The Early Constraints</h3>



The platform will disable digital asset deposits and withdrawals at launch.



Clients will have to purchase any BTC or ETH that they want to trade directly through Schwab. However, the service will also be unavailable for New York and Louisiana residents.



Schwab plans to expand the platform over time by adding more cryptocurrencies and enabling transfers, but has not provided a specific timeline.



<h3>The Competitive Threat</h3>



The new platform puts Schwab in direct competition with crypto-native platforms such as Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and retail trading apps like Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD).



Meanwhile, Schwab reported $12.22 trillion in client assets and nearly 39 million active brokerage accounts as of early 2026, giving the rollout weight as large financial institutions push deeper into digital assets.



<h3>The W-Pattern Setup</h3>



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SCHW is down 4.5%—a post-earnings pullback creating a more attractive entry into a textbook W-pattern breakout.



The W-pattern formed perfectly with two lows near $90 in February and early April, with the neckline resistance sitting at $97.43. 



Yesterday’s spike to $98.75 was the breakout attempt, and today’s red candle is the retest of that neckline.



All four EMAs—20 at $95.59, 50 at $95.80, 100 at $95.88, and 200 at $93.57—are compressed within a $2 range. The SAR at $92.26 confirms the bullish daily bias is intact.



<h3>Key Levels for SCHW</h3>



Key support sits at $95.59 (20 EMA), then $93.57 (200 EMA), then $92.26 (SAR).



Meanwhile, resistance clusters at $97.43 (neckline), then $100, then $106-$107.



Hold the $94-$95 zone on this pullback and the W-pattern measured move targets $104-$106.



Image: Shutterstock

ETHE

GBTC

COIN

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) is launching Schwab Crypto, allowing its 39 million active brokerage account holders to trade Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) for the first time. The phased rollout will enable trading through dedicated crypto accounts linked to traditional brokerage accounts, with a transaction fee of 75 basis points. However, digital asset deposits and withdrawals will be disabled at launch, and the service will not be available for residents of New York and Louisiana. This move positions Schwab in competition with platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood, as it expands its offerings in digital assets.

- Charles Schwab is launching Schwab Crypto, allowing its 39 million brokerage account holders to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum.  
- The platform will roll out in phases, with trading available through dedicated crypto accounts linked to traditional brokerage accounts, although deposits and withdrawals will be disabled initially.  
- This move positions Schwab competitively against crypto platforms like Coinbase, amid its significant client asset base of $12.22 trillion.

Charles Schwab Rolls Out BTC, ETH Trading—A Threat To Coinbase, Robinhood?