Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab's $11.59 Trillion Crypto Push: Bitcoin Trading Launch Set for 2026

Charles Schwab's $11.59T empire is launching spot Bitcoin and crypto trading by 2026. With XRP futures already live and institutional ETFs gaining traction, this changes everything for digital assets.

The Ripple Effect

16 Oct 2025 — 4 min read

Wall Street giant Charles Schwab confirmed plans to launch spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for its 38 million clients by the first half of 2026, marking a watershed moment for cryptocurrency adoption among traditional financial institutions.

CEO Rick Wurster confirmed the timeline during Thursday's earnings call, following Schwab's third-quarter earnings report that beat Wall Street estimates. The firm posted $134.4 billion in total net new assets, a 48% increase from the previous year, with total client assets reaching $11.59 trillion. The brokerage powerhouse plans to roll out spot crypto trading on its thinkorswim platform before expanding to Schwab.com and mobile applications.

The Schwab Effect: Why This Matters Now

The timing of Schwab's announcement is significant. Earlier this year, CEO Rick Wurster cited a 400% surge in traffic to Schwab's crypto-related web pages as evidence of investor demand. The changing regulatory environment under the Trump administration has created favorable conditions for the launch.

"Our expectation is that with the changing regulatory environment, we are hopeful and likely to be able to launch direct spot crypto," Wurster stated. "Our goal is to do that in the next 12 months, and we are on a great path to be able to do that."

With 37 million customers and over $10 trillion in assets under management, Schwab's entry represents one of the largest institutional embraces of cryptocurrency trading to date. The firm currently offers Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, futures contracts, and recently added Solana and XRP futures to its platform.

XRP and Ripple: Positioned for Institutional Windfall

While Schwab's initial launch will focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum, the implications for XRP and Ripple's ecosystem are significant. Schwab already offers XRP futures contracts on its thinkorswim platform under the symbol /XRP, alongside micro futures contracts trading as /MXP.

The recent approval of spot XRP ETFs from BlackRock, Fidelity, and VanEck has brought over $1.9 billion in assets under management within weeks of launch. These ETFs are already tradable on platforms including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and Interactive Brokers for qualified investors and 401(k) portfolios.

Ripple's Regulatory Clarity Advantage

The Securities and Exchange Commission and Ripple agreed to settle their long-running legal dispute in August 2025, providing crucial regulatory clarity that positions XRP favorably for institutional adoption. This resolution removes a major barrier that had kept many traditional financial institutions on the sidelines.

Ripple claims more than 100 financial institutions worldwide are currently registered with the Ripple network as of mid-2025. The company's focus on cross-border payment solutions for banks and enterprises differentiates it from purely speculative digital assets.

Market Impact and Price Implications

Institutional participation in XRP ETFs accounts for over 60% of total holdings, led by pension funds, multi-strategy hedge funds, and family offices diversifying beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. JP Morgan analysts expect total XRP ETF inflows to reach $3.5 billion within six months, potentially accounting for 7% of the global crypto ETF market.

XRP marked a new all-time high of $3.66 in July 2025, coinciding with the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF launch. The token currently trades around $2.33, with analysts identifying support at $2.20 where ETF accumulation has intensified.

Broader Market Implications

Schwab's move is part of a larger trend among traditional financial giants. Morgan Stanley's E*Trade platform announced plans to launch crypto trading by 2026, while regulatory changes from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, FDIC, and Federal Reserve have rescinded earlier restrictive guidelines issued after the FTX collapse, allowing banks to participate in crypto custody and trading activities.

Experts believe Schwab's entry will have effects similar to the launch of Bitcoin ETFs in 2024, unlocking liquidity and attracting both retail and institutional investors to the platform and broader market.

What to Expect for XRP

For Ripple and XRP holders, several catalysts are converging:

Institutional Access: Schwab's 37 million clients gaining access to crypto trading creates potential demand from investors who prefer consolidated portfolio management
ETF Growth: Combined average daily volume across the three spot XRP ETFs has topped $410 million, demonstrating sustained institutional interest
Payment Network Expansion: XRP's focus on bridging currency and commodity transfers between financial institutions positions it as more than a speculative asset
Regulatory Certainty: Ripple's Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty called the ETF approvals "the point of no return for XRP's integration into the regulated financial system"

The Path Forward

Schwab has made clear it will initially focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum, with no plans to enter the meme coin trading environment. However, the firm's addition of XRP futures suggests openness to expanding spot trading offerings based on customer demand and regulatory developments.

Wurster noted that Schwab clients currently hold more than 20% of all exchange-traded product crypto in the entire industry, representing approximately $25 billion out of the $10.8 trillion in total client assets. This suggests significant untapped demand for direct crypto holdings.

For XRP specifically, the combination of regulatory clarity, institutional ETF adoption, and access through major brokerages like Schwab creates a fundamentally different environment than existed even 12 months ago. A March 2025 survey by Coinbase and EY-Parthenon found that 83% of institutional investors intend to increase their crypto holdings in 2025, with XRP and Solana identified as the most favored assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Bottom Line

Charles Schwab's planned crypto trading launch represents a pivotal moment for digital asset adoption, with $11.59 trillion in client assets potentially gaining access to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and eventually other cryptocurrencies like XRP. For Ripple, the convergence of regulatory clarity, spot ETF approvals, and traditional brokerage access creates unprecedented institutional pathways that could drive significant adoption of XRP's payment network and token utility.

The April 2026 timeline provides a clear milestone for investors and market participants to monitor as Wall Street continues its cautious but accelerating embrace of cryptocurrency markets.

Sources

DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, advertising, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities. This content is not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the mentioned entities. Investments in cryptocurrencies or other financial assets carry significant risks, including the potential for total loss, extreme volatility, and regulatory uncertainty. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consult a qualified financial professional and conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.