Major Leap into Digital Assets by $10.7 Trillion Financial Giant
Charles Schwab, one of the world’s largest brokerage firms with client assets of $10.7 trillion, has announced it will soon introduce direct spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum. This move positions Schwab to compete head-to-head with industry leaders like Coinbase and Fidelity in offering retail investors smooth access to leading cryptocurrencies.
Highlights of Schwab’s Crypto Ambitions
- Direct Spot Crypto Trading: CEO Rick Wurster confirmed that Schwab will provide clients the opportunity to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum directly on its platform. The integration seeks to answer strong client demand for managing traditional and digital investments side by side within a single dashboard.
- Strategic Growth Driver: Wurster described the future crypto trading features as a “meaningful growth driver,” expecting that digital assets will attract more client funds previously kept at specialist crypto exchanges back to Schwab’s comprehensive platform.
- Stablecoin Launch in the Pipeline: Schwab also revealed it is actively developing its own stablecoin, a digital asset pegged to a stable value such as the U.S. dollar. This new offering aims to provide clients modern payment and transaction capabilities, complementing the platform’s broader digital asset strategy.
Industry Context and Motivation
- Schwab’s entry into direct spot crypto trading reflects a broader trend among leading financial firms. Other major institutions, such as JPMorgan and Citi, are similarly exploring the stablecoin and digital assets sector to meet evolving client needs and regulatory advances.
- Schwab’s leadership emphasized that their clients already hold significant crypto-related positions through exchange-traded products and want the convenience and security of unified account management.
- Regulatory clarity in the U.S. is improving, further motivating Schwab’s direct participation in digital asset services and product innovation.
What to Expect Next
- While Schwab has not committed to a specific launch date, the service rollout is expected “sometime soon,” as the company adapts to regulatory and technological conditions.
- The stablecoin project is said to be progressing, with the firm considering both in-house development and possible industry partnerships to accelerate its crypto ecosystem presence.
Charles Schwab’s decision to offer spot crypto trading and enter the stablecoin market underscores the growing convergence between mainstream finance and the digital asset world, firmly establishing Schwab as a new heavyweight in the crypto industry.
Standard Chartered Breaks New Ground: Launches Institutional Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading
London, July 15, 2025 — In a landmark move for the global banking industry, Standard Chartered has unveiled deliverable spot trading services for Bitcoin and Ethereum, making it the first systemically important global bank to enable such direct access for institutional clients.
Key Details
- Direct Crypto Trading for Institutions: The bank’s U.K. division now allows corporations, investment managers, and other institutional players to buy and sell physical Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) through familiar and regulated foreign exchange platforms.
- Full Regulatory Compliance: All trades are conducted within Standard Chartered’s established regulatory frameworks, offering institutional-grade risk oversight and allowing clients to select from trusted custody providers, including in-house options.
- Integrated Digital Asset Solutions: With this launch, Standard Chartered’s digital asset services now cover trading, custody, and upcoming derivatives like non-deliverable forwards—aimed at accommodating increasing market demand.
- Strategic Expansion: The offering initially covers Asian and European market hours, but the bank is considering extending trading to a 24/5 model based on global client interest.
- Industry First: This move positions Standard Chartered as a pioneer among global lenders, breaking barriers that have previously deterred major banks from fully engaging in the digital asset sphere.
Executive Insight
“Digital assets are a foundational element of the evolution in financial services. They’re integral to enabling new pathways for innovation, greater inclusion and growth across the industry,” remarked Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive at Standard Chartered.
What’s Next?
- Plans are underway to expand the crypto offering, with more digital assets and trading products expected in the near future.
- The bank continues to strengthen its role in digital finance, following recent launches in digital asset custody (notably in the UAE and Luxembourg) and a broader push into crypto infrastructure.
In summary, Standard Chartered’s bold entry into institutional crypto trading markets sets a new benchmark for global banks, signaling a profound shift in traditional finance’s embrace of digital assets and offering major institutions reliable, regulated access to Bitcoin and Ethereum trading.
