U.S.-based financial giant Charles Schwab is preparing to offer direct spot cryptocurrency trading for registered investment advisors (RIAs) on its custody platform, with the service expected to go live in 2026. This ambitious move by the company aims to provide institutional clients with seamless access to digital assets, extending functionality beyond exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to a more direct trading infrastructure.
Direct trading platform for advisors
According to reports, the new feature will let investment advisors trade cryptocurrencies within the same system, eliminating the need for separate accounts, third-party custodians, or off-platform tools. The goal is to streamline compliance, reporting, and asset management services for clients by consolidating crypto operations into one unified portal.
Charles Schwab stands among the largest financial institutions in the U.S., offering brokerage, custody, and asset management services to both individual and institutional investors. While the company has not committed to a specific launch date, it is accelerating infrastructure efforts to establish a secure, institution-grade platform for spot crypto trading.
Direct spot crypto trading for RIAs is expected to launch next year, representing a significant milestone for one of the largest RIA custody platforms in the industry.
At present, many advisors rely on ETFs, trust structures, or external accounts to provide clients with crypto exposure. Schwab’s integrated direct transaction feature is designed to centralize these formerly fragmented approaches within a single dashboard, simplifying access and operations.
Reducing operational complexity
The upcoming system is expected to lessen advisors’ dependence on third-party crypto platforms. The company envisions improved oversight, streamlined institutional reporting, enhanced internal controls, and simplified day-to-day operations. Over time, these improvements may also lower overall costs for end clients.
Glossary: An RIA (registered investment advisor) is a professional or firm in the U.S. authorized to provide investment advice to clients for a fee, operating under strict regulatory guidelines. A custody platform refers to the infrastructure where client assets are held, reported, and managed by financial institutions.
Industry experts widely expect that initial offerings will include BTC and ETH trades. Additionally, the article cites Citigroup’s projection that the tokenized securities market could grow from $17 billion in 2023 to $5.5 trillion by 2030, highlighting growing institutional interest in digital assets.
Asset base surpassing $5 trillion
Nate Geraci, CEO of Novadius Wealth Management, emphasized that Charles Schwab oversees more than $5 trillion in advisor-managed assets. Even limited crypto allocations by advisors in such large portfolios could translate to significant inflows into the digital asset market.
Nate Geraci pointed out that Schwab is preparing to roll out direct spot crypto trading for advisors next year, with more than $5 trillion in assets currently on the platform.
The initiative is considered a crucial step for institutional adoption of crypto, with the article noting that Schwab executives have been cautious due to regulatory uncertainties. However, increasing client demand appears to be prompting a shift in the company’s strategic approach.
Analysts suggest that this development could strengthen the link between traditional wealth management and the digital asset sector, potentially raising competitive pressure on other major financial institutions.
