Charles Schwab is preparing to bring direct cryptocurrency trading, custody, and transfer services to financial advisors, marking another major step in the firm’s growing digital asset strategy.
Key Takeaways
- Charles Schwab is targeting a mid-2027 launch for crypto trading, transfers, and custody services on its advisor platform.
- The offering is designed for Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and their clients who want direct exposure to cryptocurrencies.
- Advisors currently rely heavily on crypto exchange traded products, but demand for direct crypto ownership continues to grow.
- The move expands Schwab’s crypto business beyond retail investors and further integrates digital assets into traditional wealth management.
What Happened?
Charles Schwab plans to launch cryptocurrency spot trading services for advisors on its custody platform by mid 2027, according to comments from company executives. The planned offering will allow advisor clients to buy, sell, transfer, and hold digital assets through Schwab’s existing wealth management infrastructure.
The initiative builds on Schwab’s recently launched retail crypto services and reflects increasing demand from both advisors and investors seeking direct access to cryptocurrencies within familiar financial platforms.
$10 Trillion Custody Giant Charles Schwab Targets 2027 Launch of Crypto Spot Trading for Advisors
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 2, 2026
Wealth management giant Charles Schwab, which oversees more than $10 trillion in client assets, is targeting a 2027 rollout of crypto spot trading, transfer, and custody… pic.twitter.com/fLfJd5CLC2
Schwab Expands Its Crypto Strategy
Charles Schwab is continuing to deepen its involvement in the digital asset market. The company has already introduced cryptocurrency trading for select retail clients, beginning with Bitcoin and Ethereum. The advisor focused platform represents the next phase of that expansion.
Jalina Kerr, Managing Director of Schwab Advisor Services, said during a virtual media briefing that the project remains “on track” for around mid-2027. However, she also noted that the timeline remains subject to change, indicating that the company is still refining aspects of the service before a final launch date is confirmed.
Schwab currently oversees more than $10 trillion in client assets, making it one of the largest financial services firms in the United States. A successful rollout could significantly increase access to cryptocurrency investments among advisory clients.
What the New Service Will Offer?
The planned platform is expected to provide much more than simple trading functionality.
According to details shared by the company, advisor clients will be able to:
- Buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly.
- Transfer digital assets into and out of Schwab accounts.
- Hold crypto through integrated custody services.
- Manage crypto alongside traditional investments through a unified platform.
For advisors, this could simplify portfolio management and reduce the need to use separate crypto exchanges or custodians. It may also help streamline compliance, reporting, and account servicing processes that currently require multiple providers.
Growing Demand for Direct Crypto Ownership
While many financial advisors currently gain crypto exposure through exchange traded products, interest in direct ownership has been increasing.
Exchange traded products allow investors to track cryptocurrency prices without managing private wallets or holding tokens directly. However, a growing number of clients already own crypto assets on external platforms and want those holdings incorporated into their broader investment portfolios.
Schwab’s planned offering is aimed at addressing that demand. Rather than focusing solely on trading access, the company is developing transfer and custody tools that could allow advisors to manage client crypto assets more efficiently within a single ecosystem.
Retail Crypto Business Laid the Foundation
The advisor initiative follows the rollout of Schwab Crypto, which introduced direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to select retail customers.
Under Schwab’s current structure, crypto accounts are offered through Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, while Paxos provides trade execution and sub custody services. Clients can view their cryptocurrency holdings alongside stocks and other investments through Schwab’s web and mobile platforms.
The company has also indicated that additional cryptocurrencies and transfer capabilities may be added over time.
Competition Among Traditional Financial Firms Intensifies
Schwab’s latest crypto plans come as major financial institutions continue expanding their digital asset offerings.
Recent reports have highlighted that Morgan Stanley’s ETrade platform has begun testing cryptocurrency trading services that include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Industry observers believe growing competition among large brokerage firms could accelerate the adoption of digital assets across traditional wealth management channels.
At the same time, Schwab has not yet disclosed important details regarding advisor fees, supported cryptocurrencies, or transfer limits. Those details are expected to emerge closer to launch.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience, one of the biggest barriers preventing wider crypto adoption among traditional investors has been the separation between digital assets and conventional investment accounts. I found that many advisors are comfortable discussing crypto, but integrating it into client portfolios has often required additional platforms and operational complexity.
Schwab’s plan to bring trading, custody, and transfers into a single advisor platform could help remove that friction. If executed successfully, this move may further legitimize cryptocurrencies within mainstream wealth management and make digital assets easier for advisors and investors to access through trusted financial institutions.
