Can You Buy Crypto on Schwab? Here’s What You Should Know

If you’re a stock trader and considering tapping into cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, chances are people will recommend trusted centralized exchanges like Binance or Kraken. But what about a regular investment brokerage? Can you buy crypto on Schwab, for instance?

Charles Schwab is one of the most well-known and widely used financial services in the United States and the world. Its popularity comes from its diverse investment choices and comprehensive educational materials. There have been rumors that crypto will soon be part of the lineup, but what’s the progress there?

I’ve rounded up the most frequently asked questions, like can you trade crypto on Charles Schwab. I’m here to not only set the record straight but also break it all down!

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Can You Buy Crypto on Schwab?

Simply put, no, you cannot buy crypto on Schwab in a direct sense. Schwab does not facilitate spot trading for cryptocurrencies, nor does it accept deposits of such assets in any form.

However, the company is not stepping outside of the crypto conversation. Based on the latest news, it’s actually eyeing a crypto trading launch.

Rick Wuster, the CEO of Schwab, even admitted that he “feels silly” for not getting on board with crypto sooner. He commended the growing demand for digital assets in mainstream investment, especially following Bitcoin’s rally to $100k in Q4 2024 and the White House’s increasingly warmer stance toward this industry.

Now, when will the crypto launch happen? Here’s the latest green light from Rick Wuster:

We are going to add spot crypto trading in the next 12 months. We're going to focus initially on Bitcoin and Ethereum. It'll be on our Thinkorswim platform and then shortly after on Schwab.com and on mobile.

This roadmap to introduce crypto to Schwab's suite of services aligns with the strategies of other old-school investment firms across the US. Morgan Stanley is also looking to bring spot crypto trading on its E*TRADE virtual platform.

The rollout is expected to finalize in April 2026, provided that everything goes according to plan. This development will likely be good news for Schwab clients who are holding a sizeable portion of their holdings in digital-native firms. These people are eager to bring back their assets to Schwab, where they feel a greater sense of trust. Plus, managing an entire portfolio in one place is more convenient.

If you’re interested in tokens like DOGE or SHIB, you’ll need to turn your head to CEXs like Kraken or BYDFi.

	KRAKEN	BYDFI
Overall Score	9.8	9.1
Best For	Beginners	Crypto Spots, Derivatives, and Copy Trading
Operating Countries	United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, + 190 more	United States, Vietnam, Italy, France, Germany, + 150 more
Latest Coupons	Visit Site All Kraken Coupons	$1,000 DEPOSIT BONUS All BYDFi Coupons
Verdict	One of the best crypto exchanges, especially in the US.	A robust crypto exchange and ecosystem for serious traders.
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Kraken VS BYDFi comparison

And that brings us to the next topic. While you mark your calendar for Charles Schwab crypto launch, you might want to explore other shortcuts to get started. The market won’t wait, and any moonshot can come and go before you know it. To summarize, you have a couple of choices:

• Wait until April 2026 (or Q2 2026) for the official crypto trading release on Schwab;
• Explore exchanges catering to crypto trading, like Uphold;
• Look into indirect methods to invest in crypto on Schwab.

These options lay the groundwork for the topics I’ll cover in the rest of this article. But before going into CEX alternatives, let’s figure out how you can “buy” crypto on Schwab without a direct trading route.

📚 Read More: Best Cryptocurrency Exchange

Crypto Products on Schwab

Does Charles Schwab have crypto? Sort of. But not in the traditional sense.

Put simply, Schwab offers several products that expose you to the crypto market. This approach gives traditional investors the chance to dip their toes without fully diving in.

Still, they serve as an entry point for those who prefer highly regulated environments like Schwab, are cautious about crypto volatility, and are more comfortable with familiar financial instruments.

Broadly speaking, here are the main crypto-related products currently available on Schwab:

Table: Types of crypto products on Schwab

Let’s take a deeper dive into each option before making your move.

Crypto ETFs and ETPs

Schwab crypto ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), in short, are a diversified basket of assets or cryptocurrencies. ETFs fall into the broader category of ETPs, which stands for Exchange-Traded Products and puts ETNs (Exchange-Traded Notes) and ETCs (Exchange-Traded Commodities) under its classification.

ETFs in crypto have become a huge topic. Corporations, such as BlackRock and Standard Chartered, and entire nations like Japan, Canada, and the US, are all vying for a piece of the action. It’s no surprise that Schwab decided to follow suit.

Certain Schwab crypto ETFs do not directly invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Instead, they target companies involved in the broader crypto ecosystem, including those that provide trading, custody, mining, and blockchain operations.

Some Schwab crypto ETFs also cover derivatives like crypto futures contracts. However, if you’re interested in pure crypto, Schwab also lists SEC-approved ETPs that hold spot crypto and track the price of Bitcoin, Ether, and other top-performing assets.

Schwab is also looking to expand its ETF offerings to include Solana-focused products, which are still pending SEC approval (as of writing). Recent updates to the S1 filings, though, suggest that the regulatory process is moving forward.

An example of an ETF you can find on Schwab is the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund. This portfolio tracks 10 large-cap crypto index, including Cardano, Chainlink, and the newcomer Sui. The fund manages $1.606 billion in assets and trading at $72.75.

📚 Read More: How to Buy Sui Crypto

There’s also the Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF, offering the potential to benefit from the increased adoption of crypto as a store of value and a medium of exchange. Unlike other ETFs, this one invests in companies actively engaged in supporting the crypto market.

Overall, crypto ETFs provide investors with a more transparent and potentially lower-risk avenue^[1] to access top coins or tokens. If these instruments make their way into your consideration, keep a close eye on SEC rulings and court decisions.

Crypto Coin Trusts

If you’re still keeping tabs on pure crypto ETFs, you might want to know Cryptocurrency Coin Trusts. They directly invest in underlying cryptocurrencies and trade over the counter (OTC).

Essentially, trusts are structured like stocks. They offer a convenient gateway for investors seeking familiar financial vehicles.

Unlike direct cryptocurrency holdings, trusts provide detailed access to financial reports. Investors can review audited holdings, performance metrics, and technical fundamentals such as net asset value (NAV), premium discount levels, and Assets Under Management (AUM) to refine their analysis.

With trusts, you’re also putting your trust into the company that manages the funds. Bear in mind that these assets can be highly volatile and often carry higher management fees as well as trading commissions, since they function similarly to closed-end funds.

Crypto Stocks

Does Schwab have crypto stocks? Yes, they do, but let’s clear the air on what these products truly stand for. They’re not stocks for Bitcoin, but rather for companies that operate in the digital asset ecosystem.

If you’re drawn to both crypto and stock trading, this asset places you right at the intersection of the two. While the crypto market shares certain financial dynamics with stocks, it also introduces unique risks and behaviors.^[2] It is not rare for the crypto and stock market performance to align or diverge sharply with one another.

Investing in crypto stocks means you’re buying shares in businesses whose performance is influenced not only by the crypto market but also by company fundamentals, revenue models, and traditional stock market forces. Meanwhile, digital assets like Bitcoin are subject to price swings driven by market demand, adoption trends, and, like stocks, macroeconomic factors.

On Charles Schwab, crypto stock examples you can get your hands on include:

• Coinbase (COIN). A US-based crypto exchange with a global mark in 120+ countries. Coinbase upholds a strong reputation for security in an industry filled with digital threats.
• MicroStrategy (MSTR). As a company traditionally focused on business intelligence and artificial intelligence, MicroStrategy has made waves as the public firm holding the largest amount of Bitcoin (as of writing), reportedly around 500,000 BTC.

• Riot Platforms (RIOT). A leading Bitcoin mining and digital infrastructure company with large-scale data centers in Rockdale and Corsicana, Texas.

Additionally, Charles Schwab lets you get in on crypto stocks with Investing Themes, which feature 25 stocks, including blockchain enterprises. This strategy doubles down on companies developing or utilizing distributed ledger technologies.

Crypto Futures

While you cannot buy crypto on Schwab via the spot market, the platform offers crypto futures contracts on Thinkorswim, accessible on desktop, web, and mobile.

Interestingly, Schwab has both macro and micro futures. Micro futures are smaller-sized versions of futures contracts, ideal for those looking to get a bite with less capital and lower risk.

Macro futures, though, are inherently risky. Many take an interest in this method as it allows you to control a large position with little capital. But most people overlook how that same leverage can amplify gains just as easily as it magnifies losses. I’d suggest leveling up to macro futures only after you’ve grasped a solid sense of the system.

With both sides of the debate in mind, here are the crypto futures contracts you can trade on Thinkorswim:

Table: Crypto futures contracts on Thinkorswim

All crypto futures are cash-settled and trade from 6 PM ET on Sunday through 5 PM ET on Friday, with a one-hour daily trading pause between 5 PM and 6 PM ET.

A wrong movement can result in substantial capital loss, inducing higher risk. If this is your first time, start by monitoring real-time activity via paperMoney on Thinkorswim. Through this simulated environment, observe timing, patterns, and parameters that help you build confidence before putting real money on the line.

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What is Schwab?

Can you buy Crypto on Schwab - that end is clear that you can’t. But if you’re looking into stocks, government bonds, and options, Charles Schwab might be a place you’d call home.

And if you’re in the US, there’s a huge chance you’ve heard of this company before, since it’s one of the largest financial service firms with more than 380 active branches spread throughout the region.

Schwab’s long history started in 1971, when its founder Charles Schwab and his 2 other partners launched an investment newsletter. Time flew by, and in 1975, the SEC allowed Schwab to set up a stock brokerage. Fast forward to 2005, the company made its debut on NASDAQ.

The company has won multiple accolades, including #1 Overall Broker in 2025 from Stockbrokers.com and Best Online Brokers 2024 from Investor’s Business Daily, maintaining its 12-year winning streak.

Schwab is registered with the SEC and FINRA, and is also an active SIPC and FDIC member.

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Pros of Schwab

Schwab is the go-to choice for many North American and global investors for the following reasons:

• Comprehensive Investment Choices. From money market funds, individual bonds, and CDs to US Treasuries, thousands of ETFs, mutual funds, S&P 500 stocks, and options - Schwab offers a full spectrum of opportunities.
• Robo Advisor. Put your portfolio building, monitoring, and rebalancing on autopilot. Available 24/7 with a low $5,000 minimum to get started. No advisory fees or commission fees, ever.
• Commission-Free Trading. Schwab doesn’t take commissions for 4,000+ products, except for broker-assisted trades, futures options, certain international securities, and other specific services. The platform also fully exempts fees for opening and maintaining an account.

• Professional Advisory Solutions. Whether you’re planning for retirement or managing large-scale assets, Schwab offers personalized wealth management through dedicated financial consultants, tailored investment plans, and ongoing portfolio guidance.
• Security Guarantee. Funds lost due to unauthorized activity? Hopefully, that'll never happen. But in the worst scenario, Schwab will take responsibility and cover all losses.
• 300+ Offline Branches. No need to navigate everything alone behind a screen. Schwab provides in-person support at a location convenient to you.

Not to mention Schwab’s long-standing reputation for guiding both beginner and experienced investors with confidence through every market cycle. It's pretty apparent why Schwab stays as a market leader in banking, financial services, and wealth management fields.

Cons of Schwab

It’s clear that Schwab sets its course for the general audience. However, given its state today, I don’t believe that Schwab is the best fit for active crypto traders. Current users have also raised the urgency of improvement in the following areas:

• Zero to Limited Crypto Trading Access. Although Schwab has integrated Thinkorswim, a powerful trading terminal with an extensive set of tools, the platform lags in adopting full-ride support for crypto products, markets, and trading strategies. Its narrow selection of asset classes often leads investors to seek alternatives like Kraken for a full-fledged experience.
• Hefty Investment Management Fees. Some Schwab products are reserved for affluent investors, requiring account minimums in the thousands of dollars range.

• User Complaints. Schwab’s reputation may appear squeaky clean. However, numerous users complain about their poor experience due to unresponsive or unhelpful customer support, delayed or blocked withdrawals, and unresolved account issues.

I’d say that if you’re a regular trader in the centralized finance sector, Schwab covers all the bases. But until it undergoes an overhaul of its crypto trading functionality, those seeking deeper involvement with digital assets may want to look elsewhere.

How to Invest in Crypto-Related Products on Schwab

Now that you know Schwab’s strengths and limitations, maybe you’ve decided to give it a try. Or perhaps you already have an account and are navigating your newfound understanding of Schwab’s crypto-related products. Either way, let’s walk you through what you can expect and how to make the most of it.

How to Set Up an Account on Schwab

As usual, you’ll need an account before using Schwab’s services.

Here’s how to get started. If you already have a Schwab account, refer to the next tutorial instead.

How to Trade ETFs on Schwab

With a fresh account, you can begin trading ETFs on Schwab.

The same step-by-step also applies when you’re buying crypto stocks, so feel free to follow along.

How to Trade Crypto Futures on Schwab

If you’re interested in Ripple, Solana, Bitcoin, or Ethereum futures contracts, they’re available to trade on Schwab, specifically the Thinkorswim platform. Here’s how you can take advantage of these opportunities:

Alright, now you not only know how to trade futures on Schwab, but also how to customize your charts, apply technical indicators, and fine-tune your strategy for more informed decision-making.

Schwab Alternatives

Since can you buy crypto on Schwab is still a future in the making, here are some top-notch crypto exchanges where you can already trade digital assets with ease:

Kraken

Kraken is a US-based and FinCEN-registered exchange that is also a favorite amongst 15 million customers (and counting) throughout over 190 countries.

The platform began as a crypto-centric project with 700+ spot and 300+ futures markets, spanning high market cap assets and emerging sectors like DePIN and AI. In 2025, Kraken branched out to stock trading, housing more than 11,000 equities, including blue-chip giants like Nvidia and Tesla.

However, when it comes to brokerage trading, Schwab is the authority in the field. Just like Kraken, Schwab has an extensive catalog of instruments, adding government bonds and CDs to the mix.

While Kraken exclusively allows opening an individual account, Schwab offers that and the flexibility of a joint brokerage account. Collaborating with T. Rowe Price, a mutual fund with 80 years of experience, your investment opportunities expand to small-cap sectors, global stock funds, and diversified holdings across energy, financial, and other key industries.

Despite its wins, Schwab simply can’t compete with Kraken in terms of crypto trading. Schwab might have the Thinkorswim trading terminal, but it appears less intuitive and modern compared to Kraken's.

To sum up, for a seamless transition between DeFi and CeFi, Kraken is a top choice. On the other hand, if you’re aiming to build a diversified traditional portfolio with access to mutual funds and retired accounts, Schwab stands out.

📚 Read More: Kraken Review

Uphold

Uphold is a cloud-based financial platform. Users can securely store, exchange, and transfer a wide array of assets, including fiat currencies, crypto, and precious metals like gold and silver.

Here, you can trade more than 300 coins and tokens, including BTC, XRP, and TRX. Meanwhile, Schwab does not give direct exposure to any of these assets yet.

Nevertheless, Schwab holds a clear advantage when it comes to traditional investment instruments like ETFs, annuities, and options. Another unique selling point is its professional advisory solution for tax-efficient investing, retirement planning, and long-term wealth management.

Similar to Schwab, Uphold places a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance. It holds ISO 27001 certification, is regulated by FinCEN, as well as financial authorities in the UK, Canada, and other jurisdictions worldwide.

In summary, Uphold is ideal for global-minded investors looking to engage with digital assets and alternative investments. Schwab, on the other hand, is a solid pick for those focused on conservative wealth-building strategies who also value expert financial guidance.

📚 Read More: Uphold Review

Binance

If you live outside the US, Binance is easily one of the best crypto exchanges. It boasts the largest trading volume in the world (to date), which translates to deep liquidity across 600+ crypto assets.

Comparing Schwab and Binance in terms of crypto offerings, it’s clear who takes the lead. Binance is a full-blown platform that delivers an expansive suite of features, comprising:

• Basic Trading. Trade spot, margin, or P2P.
• Futures Trading. Choose between options or contracts that settle either in stablecoins (USDT or USDC) or cryptocurrencies like BTC.
• Advanced Trading. Trading bots, copy trading, and beyond.

• Earning. Stake 300+ tokens for extra yields, arbitrage your trades, or tap into flexible- or fixed-rate loans.

And I haven’t even mentioned other features, like the Mining Pool, Fan Token, and the Binance Wallet, among others.

However, you won’t find equities, mutual funds, or other conventional investment vehicles on Binance, as it’s geared toward end-to-end crypto trading. For traditional investing, Schwab is the platform to turn to.

📚 Read More: Binance Review

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Final Comparison of Schwab VS Alternatives

If you’re unsure which platform to choose, let’s compare them all in one go.

Table: Comparison of Schwab VS crypto exchanges

Hopefully, this information gives you more clarity to make a confident decision.

📚 Read More: How to Choose a Crypto Exchange

Should You Invest in Crypto?

While I’m not here to give you financial guidance, if you’re considering stepping into the crypto market, it’s essential that you have safeguards. This market is not all sunshine and rainbows as it is painted to be. There are occasional thunderstorms that may set you back along the way.

Consider the following points:

• Asset Returns. Most people regret not entering the crypto market sooner, especially after Bitcoin crossed the $100k mark. These massive gains are rare in crypto, and they often come swiftly without warning. Most assets won’t deliver that kind of return overnight, which is why strategy and timing matter more than hype.
• Portfolio Diversification. Crypto markets don’t always move in sync with the traditional markets. Some people see this unique behavior as a compelling diversification tool. However, note the flip side - volatility. Crypto may correlate with risk assets rather than counterbalance them.

• Innovation Exposure. Digital assets have been gaining traction as interest in AI and other emerging tech continues to rise. As a result, crypto is not seen just as a speculative investment, but as early access to the infrastructure of the future. However, with innovation comes uncertainty. Many crypto projects are still in the experimental phase, often struggling due to vague use cases.

The bottom line is that crypto is high risk. Many people view it as a high-return asset, and sometimes it is, but those returns come with extreme volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and no guarantees.

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Conclusions

Can you buy crypto with Schwab? As of writing, no, you can’t. That doesn’t mean you’re out of options, though, since Schwab features crypto-related assets like stocks, ETFs, and even macro as well as micro Bitcoin futures contracts (among others).

In the meantime, Schwab remains the place for traditional investing. From mutual funds to options, the company’s decades of industry experience are baked right into its products. Schwab is best suited for a retiree seeking stability, an active online trader, or someone optimizing for tax efficiency and long-term wealth.

The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.

Scientific References

1. Krause, D.: 'The Rise of Spot Cryptocurrency ETFs: Implications for Institutional Investors';

2. Jeris, S. S., Chowdurry N. U. R. A. S. M., Akter M. T., Frances, S., Roy, H. M.: 'Cryptocurrency and Stock Market: Bibliometric and Content Analysis'.