Key Takeaways:

• Charles Schwab plans to launch crypto spot trading, transfers, and custody services for financial advisers by mid-2027.
• Financial advisers on Schwab’s platform will be able to buy, sell, transfer, and securely store cryptocurrencies for clients.
• Schwab already offers spot Bitcoin and Ether trading to retail clients.

Charles Schwab, one of the world’s largest financial services companies with more than $10 trillion in client assets under custody, is preparing to expand its cryptocurrency offerings.

The company is targeting a mid-2027 launch for crypto spot trading, transfer, and custody services for financial advisers using its custody platform.

While the timeline could still change, the move signals growing acceptance of digital assets among major traditional financial institutions. Schwab already allows retail customers to trade spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), but the upcoming expansion would bring crypto capabilities directly to the advisers who manage investments on behalf of millions of clients.

What Charles Schwab is planning

The planned rollout would allow registered investment advisors (RIAs) using Schwab’s platform to buy and sell cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether for their clients.

In addition to trading, advisers would also be able to transfer and securely store digital assets through Schwab’s custody infrastructure.

Custody refers to the safekeeping of assets. In the crypto world, this means securely storing digital currencies and protecting the private keys needed to access them. By offering custody services, Schwab aims to provide advisers with a regulated and familiar environment for managing crypto investments.

For advisers, this could simplify the process of adding cryptocurrencies to client portfolios without relying on separate crypto exchanges or third-party custodians.

Learn More: What Is Crypto Tokenomics: A Complete Guide

What changes for everyday investors

For many people, investing in cryptocurrency can still feel complicated. Opening accounts on crypto exchanges, managing digital wallets, and understanding security risks can create barriers for new investors.

Schwab’s planned services could make crypto investing more accessible by allowing investors to access digital assets through the same financial advisers they already trust for retirement accounts, stock portfolios, and long-term financial planning.

The move may also increase confidence among investors who have been hesitant about crypto due to concerns over security, regulation, or platform reliability.

A large institution like Schwab entering the market more deeply could help reassure clients that digital assets are becoming a more established part of the financial system.

Related: Hong Kong Plans Stricter Crypto Rules to Protect Investors

A sign of growing institutional adoption

Schwab’s announcement reflects a broader trend of traditional financial firms embracing cryptocurrencies.

Over the past two years, major banks, asset managers, and brokerage firms have expanded their crypto offerings as investor demand continues to grow.

The approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US and rising institutional participation have helped push digital assets further into mainstream finance.

The interesting part isn’t that Schwab is adding crypto but that crypto is becoming another standard asset class inside traditional wealth management.

“When advisors can custody, transfer, and trade it alongside stocks and bonds, the ‘crypto vs TradFi’ narrative gets a lot harder,” one user said on X.