Charles Schwab to Ignite Crypto Market in 2026: How Will Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading Reshape the Investment Landscape?

A financial giant managing over $12 trillion in client assets is preparing to bring spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to tens of millions of clients. According to CEO Rick Wurster in a CNBC interview, the plan is expected to become a reality in early 2026.

For users already trading on professional platforms like Gate, this means the barrier between the crypto world and mainstream finance will further dissolve.

01 Timeline: From Rumors to Official Announcement — The Financial Giant’s Transformation

Charles Schwab’s journey into crypto hasn’t happened overnight. As early as 2024, company executives publicly stated that they would consider offering spot crypto trading once U.S. regulations permitted it.

The turning point came in 2025. As the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve, and FDIC lifted some early restrictions imposed after the FTX collapse, regulatory barriers for banks entering the crypto market were lowered.

In July of this year, Schwab CEO Rick Wurster officially confirmed the company’s plans in a CNBC interview: “We expect to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum trading soon, giving our clients access to these assets.”

A more specific timeline has also emerged. Reports indicate that April 2026 could be the potential launch date for direct Bitcoin trading.

02 Market Data: Price Fluctuations and Institutional Moves

As news about Schwab broke, the crypto market was experiencing typical volatility cycles. According to the latest data from December 5, Bitcoin’s price fell below $91,000, down 1.87% over the past 24 hours.

Ethereum also faced a correction, dropping below 3,100 USDT—a 2.80% decline on the day. This price movement followed a recent strong rebound in ETH. According to Gate Research’s December 4 report, ETH had rebounded sharply from a low of 2,719.28 USDT on December 2 to 3,218.28 USDT.

However, short-term price swings have not shaken institutions’ long-term confidence. A joint survey by Coinbase and EY-Parthenon in March 2025 found that 83% of institutional investors planned to increase their crypto holdings that year.

Schwab’s own client data reflects this trend. Company clients already hold a large amount of crypto assets through exchange-traded products, accounting for more than 20% of the industry’s crypto ETP market share.

03 Business Model: Strategic Shift from Indirect Participation to Direct Trading

Currently, Schwab and TD Ameritrade clients mostly gain crypto exposure through trading U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs and CME Bitcoin futures, rather than directly trading cryptocurrencies.

This indirect participation model is about to change. The company plans to launch direct spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading, allowing clients to buy and sell digital assets instantly.

A strong client demand is driving this strategic shift. Wurster noted that nearly $25 billion in crypto assets from Schwab clients are not custodied on the company’s platform, but held externally.

“They really want to bring it back to Schwab because they trust us. They want us to keep it together with their other assets,” Wurster explained. Data shows many clients custody 98% of their traditional assets at Schwab, but only 1-2% of their crypto assets.

04 Competitive Landscape: The Intersection of Traditional Finance and Crypto Natives

Schwab’s entry into spot crypto trading marks a new phase of competition between traditional financial giants and native crypto platforms. Wurster made it clear that the company “absolutely” intends to compete with crypto exchanges like Coinbase.

In traditional finance, Fidelity and Robinhood already offer crypto trading services. Vanguard has allowed clients to trade crypto ETFs, and BlackRock is fully engaged in the crypto market.

Schwab’s unique advantage lies in its massive client base and high level of trust. The company manages between $7.3 trillion and $12 trillion in assets, serving tens of millions of clients.

This immense asset scale means that even a small allocation shift toward crypto could bring significant capital inflows to the Bitcoin and Ethereum markets.

05 Strategic Significance: Institutional Channels and Integration with Traditional Portfolios

Schwab’s launch of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading is far more than just adding two new products. It represents the formal acceptance of crypto by the traditional financial system, incorporating it as a configurable asset class in mainstream portfolios.

For clients seeking to integrate crypto holdings with traditional assets, this service will offer a seamless experience. Clients can manage stocks, bonds, funds, and cryptocurrencies on the same platform, simplifying the asset allocation process.

From a regulatory standpoint, this move is also significant. As the U.S. CFTC begins to approve regulated platforms to offer spot digital asset products, the crypto trading environment is moving toward more standardization.

For the entire crypto market, Schwab’s participation is expected to increase liquidity, reduce spreads, and enhance price discovery mechanisms—especially for Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two major digital assets.

06 Market Impact: Liquidity Injection and Increased Retail Participation

Analysts believe Schwab’s entry into the spot crypto trading market could have a profound effect on market dynamics. On one hand, it may increase market volatility, especially as launch approaches and expectations rise for the integration of traditional finance and decentralized assets.

On the other hand, it could enhance market liquidity and reduce trading costs. More participants and deeper order books usually mean narrower bid-ask spreads, which benefits all market players.

For retail investors, Schwab’s platform may lower the entry barrier, allowing more ordinary investors to access the crypto market. This convenience could promote higher trading volumes, especially in Bitcoin/Ethereum trading pairs.

07 Gate Perspective: Opportunities and Strategies for Professional Traders

As major traditional institutions like Schwab enter the crypto market, investors already trading on professional platforms like Gate will face both opportunities and challenges.

Gate Research’s latest analysis indicates that after hitting a low of 83,828 USDT on December 2, Bitcoin started a strong V-shaped rebound, currently trading near 93,452.5 USDT. The three moving averages are arranged in a classic bullish order: MA 5 > MA 10 > MA 30, and the overall trend remains positive.

Ethereum’s performance is even more notable, rebounding from a December 2 low of 2,719.28 USDT to 3,218.28 USDT, a 6.73% gain. With Ethereum successfully completing the Fusaka upgrade, ETH is likely to continue its trend toward challenging the 3,300 USDT level.

For traders, the entry of traditional financial institutions like Schwab could alter some fundamental market patterns. The influx of traditional finance capital may increase the correlation between crypto markets and traditional equities, especially during shifts in risk appetite.

Cross-market arbitrage opportunities may arise; for example, when the stock market performs strongly, traditional investors may allocate some gains to crypto, and vice versa. In addition, platforms like Schwab may attract a new group of investors to the crypto market, whose trading behavior and preferences could differ from the existing crypto community.

08 Outlook: Accelerating Integration of Crypto Markets and Traditional Finance

Schwab’s plan to launch spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading in 2026 is just a microcosm of the accelerating fusion between traditional finance and the crypto world. This trend is picking up pace and will reshape the entire financial services landscape.

From a broader industry perspective, 90% of institutional firms are already using or experimenting with stablecoins, and nearly half of respondents claim to have used them for payments. This indicates that digital assets are becoming a vital part of financial operations, rather than merely speculative assets.

As more traditional financial institutions enter the space, the maturity and stability of the crypto market are expected to improve, attracting more conservative investors. Meanwhile, regulatory frameworks will continue to develop, providing clearer guidelines for this emerging asset class.

For individual investors, this means more choices, more convenient access, and greater diversification options for portfolio allocation. Whether on professional crypto platforms like Gate or traditional financial institutions like Schwab, investors will find services to suit their needs.

Future Outlook

When the doors of the traditional financial world open to crypto assets, the market responds swiftly and clearly. In the very week Schwab confirmed it will launch spot trading, Ethereum completed its key Fusaka upgrade, unlocking more room for Layer 2 networks and on-chain ecosystems.

This is not just about two companies’ actions, but a sign that two parallel financial worlds are beginning to merge. Schwab’s client data shows that over 98% of traditional assets are entrusted to this financial giant, but less than 2% of crypto assets are willing to be held there.

In 2026, when this door fully opens, what flows into the crypto world may be more than just capital.