Charles Schwab crypto expansion adds Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink

Charles Schwab is doubling down on digital assets. The brokerage giant has confirmed plans to add Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink to its crypto trading platform, marking the next phase of a Charles Schwab crypto expansion that began quietly just a few months ago with only Bitcoin and Ethereum on offer. The move signals that one of Wall Street’s most traditional names is no longer content to sit on the sidelines while crypto-native platforms capture retail trading volume.

Key takeaways

• Charles Schwab plans to add Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink to its Schwab Crypto platform, expanding beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
• Schwab Crypto launched in May 2026 and is accessible via web portal, mobile app, and the thinkorswim trading platform.
• Trading fees stand at 0.75% per trade, and the service is unavailable in New York, Louisiana, US territories, and foreign markets.
• Schwab now oversees $13.04 trillion in client assets across 39.9 million brokerage accounts, after posting record Q2 2026 net revenue of $7.1 billion.
• Separately, Schwab is developing S&P 500-linked prediction contracts with Cboe Global Markets, though no launch date has been set for either product.

Charles Schwab Expands Cryptocurrency Offering

Charles Schwab is broadening its digital asset lineup by adding three new tokens to a platform that only recently opened its doors to crypto trading. The Charles Schwab crypto expansion will bring Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink alongside the existing Bitcoin and Ethereum offerings within the next several months, according to the company.

Schwab Crypto launched in May 2026, giving retail investors a straightforward way to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum directly through the brokerage’s existing infrastructure. Since then, users have been able to trade through Schwab’s web portal, its smartphone app, and the thinkorswim trading platform — the same tools many clients already use for stocks and options.

New Tokens and Strategic Approach

Schwab describes the addition of Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink as a deliberate, measured move rather than a rush to compete token-for-token with crypto-native exchanges. The company has framed it as an effort to “thoughtfully expand” its crypto lineup by picking established digital currencies with clear investor demand, rather than flooding the platform with dozens of assets the way Coinbase or Robinhood do.

Joe Vietri, who heads Digital Assets at Charles Schwab, said the expansion “provides investors with additional options for constructing a digital asset portfolio while leveraging the comprehensive investment and banking services Schwab already delivers.” That framing matters: Schwab isn’t pitching itself as a crypto exchange competitor so much as a one-stop shop where digital assets sit next to stocks, bonds, and banking products under one login.

Notably, Schwab has not disclosed a rollout timeline for the three new tokens, nor has it said whether other cryptocurrencies are under consideration beyond this batch. That silence leaves open the question of how far the platform intends to grow — and how quickly.

Service Availability, Custody, and Fees

Not every Schwab client can use the new crypto features, and the ones who can will pay a flat fee on every trade. The service is available across most of the United States, but Schwab has explicitly excluded New York and Louisiana, and it remains off-limits in US territories and abroad.

Custody sits with Charles Schwab Premier Bank, which holds the crypto accounts, while the affiliated brokerage, Charles Schwab & Co., performs certain operational tasks on the bank’s behalf. That structure keeps digital assets tethered to Schwab’s regulated banking arm rather than a standalone crypto custodian, a choice that reflects the company’s broader conservative posture toward the asset class.

Trading Fees

Transaction costs on Schwab Crypto are set at 0.75% per trade — 75 basis points on the dollar value of each transaction. That fee sits above what some dedicated crypto exchanges charge active traders, which could matter for cost-conscious investors weighing Schwab against platforms built specifically for crypto. Still, for many Schwab clients, the appeal may be less about shaving basis points and more about managing crypto and traditional investments in a single place.

Financial Performance and User Scale

Schwab’s crypto push is landing at a moment when the firm’s core business is running at record scale. As of July 31, 2026, the company oversaw $13.04 trillion in total client assets spread across 39.9 million active brokerage accounts — a base large enough that even modest crypto adoption among existing clients could move meaningful volume onto the platform.

The second quarter of 2026 was Schwab’s strongest on record, with net revenue hitting $7.1 billion and net income reaching $2.8 billion. Those numbers give context to why Schwab is willing to expand into crypto and prediction markets from a position of financial strength rather than urgency — it’s diversifying products at a moment when its traditional business is already thriving, not scrambling to find new revenue.

This is where the Charles Schwab crypto expansion becomes more than a product footnote. With tens of millions of existing brokerage accounts already in place, Schwab doesn’t need to win new customers to grow crypto adoption — it just needs existing clients to click a new tab inside an app they already use. That distribution advantage is something crypto-native platforms, however feature-rich, simply cannot replicate overnight.

Upcoming S&P 500 Prediction Contracts

Crypto isn’t the only new territory Schwab is entering. The Wall Street Journal reported in June that Schwab is developing prediction contracts tied to S&P 500 performance, built through a partnership with Cboe Global Markets.

Partnership with Cboe Global Markets

These contracts would let investors bet on whether the S&P 500 closes above or below set thresholds during a trading session. Unlike Kalshi or Polymarket, which offer prediction markets across a wide range of topics, Schwab’s initial rollout is expected to stay narrowly focused on stock index outcomes rather than branching into politics, sports, or other event-driven markets.

Industry watchers expect the product to arrive within several months, but as with the new crypto tokens, Schwab has not committed to an official launch date. Taken together, the two initiatives point to a brokerage testing how far it can stretch into speculative products without straying from its core identity as a full-service financial institution.

Why does any of this matter beyond Schwab’s own balance sheet? Because a firm managing $13.04 trillion in assets moving into crypto and prediction markets — even cautiously — puts pressure on both crypto-native exchanges and other legacy brokerages to decide how aggressively they want to compete for the same retail dollars. Schwab’s approach so far favors trust and familiarity over breadth, betting that investors would rather trade five well-known tokens inside a bank-grade platform than chase dozens of coins on an exchange built purely for crypto.

FAQ

Which new cryptocurrencies will Charles Schwab add to its Schwab Crypto platform?

Charles Schwab plans to add Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink to Schwab Crypto in the coming months, expanding beyond its current Bitcoin and Ethereum offering.

How can users access Schwab Crypto trading services?

Users can access Schwab Crypto through Schwab’s web portal, its smartphone app, and the thinkorswim trading platform.

What are the transaction fees on the Schwab Crypto platform?

The platform charges transaction fees of 0.75% per trade, equivalent to 75 basis points on the dollar value of each transaction.

Is Schwab Crypto available in all US states?

No. Schwab Crypto is available in most US states but excludes New York and Louisiana, and it is not offered in US territories or foreign markets.

What new product is Charles Schwab developing in partnership with Cboe Global Markets?

Charles Schwab is developing prediction contracts linked to S&P 500 performance in partnership with Cboe Global Markets, though no official launch date has been announced.

Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.