Charles Schwab Expands Crypto Access With 24/7 Futures Trading

Futures Product Narrows Trading-Hours Gap

Crypto trades continuously, while traditional futures products have historically operated with scheduled pauses. Schwab’s near-24/7 access narrows that mismatch by allowing futures traders to manage crypto-linked exposure during periods that previously sat outside normal access windows.

One uploaded source said the service allows clients to trade crypto-linked futures contracts at any hour, including weekends and holidays. The same material tied the rollout to CME Group’s expansion of overnight crypto derivatives trading windows, describing Schwab’s move as part of a broader effort to bridge the trading-hours gap for futures users.

The practical benefit is risk control. Traders using futures to hedge spot exposure or manage leveraged positions can open, close, or adjust contracts closer to the pace of the underlying crypto market. The uploaded materials also said Bitcoin’s well-known CME futures gaps are expected to largely disappear as continuous trading becomes more common, while several historical gaps remain unresolved.

The futures structure keeps Schwab’s latest crypto product within regulated derivatives markets. The uploaded materials said the service remains under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight and offers exposure through standardized contracts, clearinghouse guarantees, and legal protections that differ from unregulated offshore derivatives platforms.

The distinction matters because futures provide price exposure without requiring clients to manage wallets, private keys, direct custody, or offshore venues. One source contrasted that structure with direct custody risks and cited a $245 million bitcoin theft case as an example of why some investors may prefer futures-based exposure over self-custody or direct asset storage.

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Retail Spot Crypto and Advisor Custody Form Next Layers

Schwab’s futures launch sits alongside a broader digital asset strategy. Charles Schwab announced Schwab Crypto on April 16, 2026, describing a phased rollout for retail clients in the coming weeks with direct access to bitcoin and ethereum trading.

Schwab Crypto was designed to combine spot trading with education, service, and research. At launch, the retail product includes direct trading in bitcoin and ethereum, which Schwab said together represent approximately three-quarters of total crypto market capitalization.

Retail pricing for Schwab Crypto is listed at 75 basis points on the dollar value of each trade. Schwab described the pricing as among the lowest in the industry, while also saying retail clients would be able to view and trade cryptocurrency and traditional investments side by side across Schwab.com, Schwab Mobile, and thinkorswim.

Schwab Crypto clients will maintain a separate crypto account offered by Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB, linked directly to brokerage accounts. Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB will act as custodian of client digital assets, with responsibility for safekeeping and record-keeping.

Paxos will provide sub-custody and trade execution services for Schwab Crypto. Schwab described Paxos as an OCC-regulated blockchain infrastructure provider.

Joe Vietri, Head of Digital Assets at Charles Schwab, said Paxos’ regulatory standing and digital asset expertise would help Schwab deliver the integrated experience clients expect. Jonathan Craig, Head of Retail Investing at Charles Schwab, said Schwab knows clients want to conduct more of their financial lives at Schwab, and that Schwab Crypto lets them trade crypto alongside other investments with Schwab’s service, education, and research.

Schwab said clients already hold approximately 20% of spot crypto exchange-traded products. The company also cited an online survey of 460 cryptocurrency owners and intended owners aged 21 and over, conducted from July 31 to September 1, 2025. Respondents identified low transparent pricing, brand familiarity and reputation, and confidence that assets will be kept secure as key factors when choosing a crypto trading firm.

Schwab said it plans to add more cryptocurrencies over time, along with transfer capabilities for deposits and withdrawals. That would allow clients with existing digital assets to bring those assets into Schwab.

Advisor Platform Targeted for Mid-2027

Schwab is also preparing spot cryptocurrency trading and custody services for financial advisors. Jalina Kerr, Schwab’s head of advisor experience, said the firm is targeting a mid-2027 launch for advisors.

The planned advisor rollout would let registered investment advisors and financial advisors buy, sell, and store crypto assets for clients inside Schwab’s regulated brokerage framework. The product has not launched, and Schwab has not confirmed every product detail, an exact launch date, or a full asset list.

The advisor service is expected to move direct digital asset access closer to the same operational rails advisors already use for stocks, bonds, funds, and cash. Bitcoin and Ethereum are expected as likely initial advisor-platform assets because they dominate the market and are viewed as among the most regulated digital assets available, but Schwab has not provided a complete list.

Nate Geraci, CEO of Novadius Wealth Management, wrote: “Looks like Schwab planning on rolling out direct spot crypto trading to advisors next year…” Geraci added that Schwab is the largest RIA custodian with “over $5tril” on its custody platform.

The advisor integration would reduce fragmentation across outside exchanges, separate custodians, disconnected statements, and standalone reporting tools. Custody is central to the planned product because secure storage and control are core investor-protection, compliance, and risk-management requirements for digital assets.

Schwab’s approach is described as careful and infrastructure-first. The firm needs secure execution, custody architecture, compliance workflows, client disclosures, risk controls, and operational reporting before putting spot crypto access inside the advisor platform.

Regulatory scrutiny remains a major constraint, with U.S. authorities focused on custody, market integrity, disclosures, and investor safeguards. The advisor product could appeal to younger investors and high-net-worth clients who want crypto exposure through regulated advisory relationships rather than separate crypto-native exchanges.

Advisor demand has grown as more clients ask about exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets. The uploaded advisor material also linked Schwab’s move to a wider institutional shift toward digital asset infrastructure, citing Citi’s forecast that tokenized securities could grow from $17 billion to $5.5 trillion by 2030.

The clearest distinction is product status. Schwab has launched near-24/7 crypto futures trading, has announced a phased retail spot crypto product, and is preparing advisor-facing spot crypto trading and custody targeted for mid-2027.