Charles Schwab plans to launch spot Bitcoin trading services in April 2026, spurred by a 400% increase in crypto-related web traffic. CEO Rick Wurster expresses optimism for a more supportive regulatory environment following the 2024 elections. Schwab’s recent partnership with TMTG will introduce the Truth.Fi platform, while institutional interest in Bitcoin continues to rise, evidenced by a 16.1% increase in corporate holdings in Q1 2025.
Charles Schwab Corp is gearing up to launch spot Bitcoin trading services, targeting April 2026 for its debut. CEO Rick Wurster reported a 400% increase in traffic to Schwab’s crypto-related web pages, indicating heightened investor interest in digital assets. He stated, “Our expectation is to launch direct spot crypto within the next 12 months and we are on a promising path to achieve this.”
Since taking the CEO role in 2025, Wurster has expressed a strong commitment to enhancing Schwab’s digital asset offerings. In a November 2024 interview, he revealed the firm’s eagerness to introduce direct crypto services but clarified they were awaiting clearer regulatory guidance. Following Donald Trump’s re-election in 2024, Wurster expressed optimism for a more supportive regulatory environment, paving the way for the requested direct trading services.
In January 2025, Schwab partnered with Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) to launch “Truth.Fi,” a platform merging traditional finance and cryptocurrencies, catering to users concerned about financial censorship. TMTG CEO Devin Nunes presented this initiative as a response to issues like debanking and privacy violations posed by mainstream institutions.
While Wurster admitted to not owning any cryptocurrencies himself and feeling “silly” for missing out, his leadership demonstrates Schwab’s intent to significantly engage in the digital finance landscape. In a broader context, publicly traded companies boosted Bitcoin holdings by 16.1% in Q1 2025, reporting a total of about 688,000 BTC valued at approximately $56.7 billion by the end of that quarter.
Evidently, institutional interest in Bitcoin persists amidst market fluctuations, with the number of companies holding Bitcoin rising from 67 to 79. Furthermore, the proposal for Bitcoin reserve bills is gaining traction in the United States, with 41 active bills across 26 states. Arizona’s Strategic Digital Assets Reserve Bill has successfully passed a crucial committee and is awaiting a vote before reaching Governor Katie Hobbs.
