Charles Schwab Prepares Regulated Crypto Access for Advisory Clients
Charles Schwab is laying the groundwork to bring cryptocurrency trading and custody into its advisor platform, a move that could push digital assets further into mainstream wealth management.
Jalina Kerr, Schwab’s head of advisor experience, said the firm is aiming to launch crypto spot trading and custody services for financial advisors by mid-2027. The planned rollout would allow advisors to buy, sell and store crypto assets for clients inside a regulated brokerage framework.
For Schwab, the initiative marks a clear expansion beyond its current crypto-related offerings. It also signals that large U.S. brokerage firms are no longer treating digital assets as a side market. They are preparing to make them part of the infrastructure used by financial advisors and their clients.
The timeline reflects the complexity of the project. Spot crypto trading requires secure execution, custody systems, compliance controls, and risk disclosures that meet the standards of a heavily regulated financial institution. Schwab’s approach suggests it is moving carefully rather than racing to market.
Advisor demand is a key driver. More wealth managers are fielding questions from clients who want exposure to bitcoin, ethereum, and other digital assets as part of broader portfolios. Interest has been especially strong among younger investors and high-net-worth clients seeking regulated access instead of using standalone crypto exchanges.
Custody is central to the offering. In crypto markets, secure storage is not just an operational feature. It is a core requirement for investor protection, compliance, and risk management. By building custody services into its own platform, Schwab could reduce advisors’ reliance on outside crypto custodians and create a smoother link between digital assets and traditional portfolios.
The move would also place Schwab in a competitive group of major financial institutions expanding into crypto. Banks, asset managers, and brokerage firms have already launched spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), crypto custody products, and institutional trading services. Schwab’s planned advisory rollout could give it an edge with financial professionals who want a familiar platform for client crypto exposure.
Regulation remains a major factor. U.S. authorities have increased scrutiny of crypto markets, with attention on custody, market integrity, disclosures, and investor safeguards. Schwab’s mid-2027 target gives the company time to build systems that can operate within that environment.
A successful launch could reshape how advisors treat digital assets. Instead of directing clients to third-party platforms or limiting exposure to ETFs, advisors could manage crypto directly alongside stocks, bonds, funds, and cash.
That would be another step in the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain-based markets. For Schwab, it is also a bet that crypto will continue moving from speculative fringe asset to regulated portfolio component.
