Financial giant Charles Schwab is making its biggest crypto play yet. The $10.8 trillion asset manager plans to launch spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading by 2025, pending regulatory approval. It’s a massive shift for a company that until now has only offered indirect crypto exposure through ETFs and futures.
The numbers tell quite a story. Schwab’s clients already hold about $25 billion in crypto-related assets – and that’s just through indirect exposure. Now imagine what happens when direct trading becomes available. Their crypto page traffic has surged 400%, with most visitors not even being current clients. Talk about pent-up demand. The move will help Schwab bridge traditional finance with digital assets.
The timing isn’t random. A recent Schwab survey found that 62% of millennials plan to invest in crypto next year – more than stocks or bonds. That’s right, the suit-and-tie crowd is chasing crypto dollars. And why wouldn’t they? Their competitors – Robinhood, Kraken, Webull – are already in the game. The platform will require identity verification similar to opening a traditional bank account.
Here’s what makes this different: Schwab isn’t just another crypto platform. They’re a trillion-dollar financial institution with a reputation older than most crypto traders. Their plan? Make buying Bitcoin as easy as buying stocks, all from the same account. No separate wallets. No sketchy exchanges. Just plain old Schwab, now with crypto. A survey shows that 83% of institutions are planning to increase their Bitcoin allocations in 2025.
CEO Rick Wurster isn’t being shy about it. They’re ready to roll, just waiting for regulators to give the green light. And there’s whispers about stablecoins potentially joining the party later. Not confirmed, but interesting.
The real kicker? This is just 0.2% of their total assets under management. That’s nothing. But when a company managing $10.8 trillion makes a move like this, people notice. They’re not just dipping their toes in the crypto pool – they’re diving in headfirst.
For a traditional financial giant to embrace crypto this way, it’s a pretty big deal. Whether it works out or not, one thing’s clear: Schwab isn’t letting the crypto train leave without them.
