Digital Assets
Charles Schwab has added Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX) and Chainlink (LINK) to its Schwab Crypto trading service, expanding the platform’s available assets to five alongside Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The expansion strengthens the brokerage’s position in a retail digital-asset market increasingly shaped by competition among established financial institutions.
The move reflects a broader shift in the 2026 brokerage landscape, as traditional investment platforms seek to integrate cryptocurrency trading with existing stock and retirement-account services. Schwab’s offering allows eligible clients to access digital assets alongside conventional investments through a familiar brokerage environment.
As of September 30, Charles Schwab managed $13.33 trillion in client assets and maintained 40.3 million brokerage accounts. Its scale provides an established distribution platform for expanding access to digital assets, although the company’s crypto service remains subject to separate eligibility, custody and protection conditions.
The newly supported assets represent different functions within the digital-asset ecosystem. Solana and Avalanche operate blockchain networks used by developers to build applications and payment tools, while Chainlink provides real-world data, including pricing information, to blockchain-based systems. Their addition broadens the range of digital-asset exposure available through Schwab beyond the two largest established cryptocurrencies.
Schwab charges a commission of 0.75% of transaction value, subject to a minimum fee of $0.01. At that rate, a $100 transaction generates a 75-cent commission, while a $1,000 transaction costs $7.50.
The company states that it does not retain the bid-ask spread or apply an additional markup to quoted prices. It characterizes its pricing as among the lowest in the industry, citing an April 2026 Barclays report.
However, the fee structure is not the lowest among the major brokerage offerings identified. Morgan Stanley’s ETrade charges 0.50% for cryptocurrency transactions, below Schwab’s 0.75% rate. ETrade introduced its crypto trading service in May, adding another established financial institution to the expanding retail digital-asset market.
The difference places pressure on Schwab to compete through a combination of pricing transparency, platform integration and access to a broader investment ecosystem. Its decision not to add a spread or price markup is a distinct feature of the disclosed fee structure, although the headline commission remains higher than E*Trade’s stated rate.
Joe Vietri, head of digital assets at Charles Schwab, said the firm intends to continue expanding Schwab Crypto so clients can invest more broadly and flexibly in digital assets alongside their existing investments. The company has also indicated that future additions will focus on cryptocurrencies that have been vetted and reflect client demand.
Schwab Crypto began as a pilot program for selected clients in May and became available to all eligible retail clients in October. Customers can access stock and cryptocurrency trading through a single screen using Schwab’s website, mobile application and thinkorswim trading platform.
Order values range from $1 to $2 million. Transactions exceeding $1 million must be submitted as limit orders, meaning they can execute only at the price specified by the client. Trading is available nearly 24 hours a day, subject to a maintenance period of up to two hours once a month.
Custody arrangements involve Charles Schwab Premier Bank, with Paxos Trust Company serving as sub-custodian. Schwab states that most cryptocurrency holdings are maintained in cold storage, which involves keeping digital assets in offline wallets rather than continuously connected online environments.
The custody structure is an important component of the service because digital assets involve operational and security considerations that differ from conventional brokerage holdings. However, the use of offline storage does not eliminate all risks associated with cryptocurrency ownership, custody or market movements.
The service is not universally available across the United States. Residents of New York, Louisiana and U.S. territories cannot open Schwab Crypto accounts. The platform also does not allow beneficiaries to be designated on these accounts, a limitation that may be relevant to clients incorporating digital assets into broader estate and wealth-transfer arrangements.
Schwab has emphasized that cryptocurrency holdings are not covered by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance or Securities Investor Protection Corporation protection. Clients may lose their entire principal, reflecting the market and operational risks associated with digital assets.
These exclusions distinguish cryptocurrency holdings from certain traditional banking deposits and brokerage assets. Clients using the platform therefore need to understand the separate protection framework rather than assuming that digital assets receive the same safeguards as other products held within a broader financial relationship.
Schwab’s expansion to Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink represents a further step in the integration of digital assets into traditional brokerage services. With $13.33 trillion in client assets and 40.3 million brokerage accounts as of September 30, the firm has substantial distribution capacity, but its ability to compete will depend on pricing, platform functionality, asset selection and client confidence in its custody arrangements.
The 0.75% commission places Schwab below some potential alternatives in terms of pricing competitiveness, particularly against E*Trade’s 0.50% rate. At the same time, consolidated access to traditional investments and cryptocurrencies may appeal to clients who value an integrated brokerage relationship. The absence of FDIC and SIPC protection, geographic restrictions and the possibility of total principal loss remain important considerations as digital assets become more accessible through established financial institutions.
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