Charles Schwab has taken its most direct step yet into around-the-clock cryptocurrency access, announcing that select cryptocurrency futures — including Bitcoin — are now available to trade nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across all thinkorswim platforms.
The move marks a milestone for the Westlake, Texas-based brokerage, which holds $12.61 trillion in total client assets and processed 10.3 million daily average trades in April 2026, the brokerage said.
Bitcoin futures, trading with a $5 multiplier, represent the flagship product in the new round-the-clock offering — one that Schwab calls its first 24/7 product in the firm’s history.
The timing carries weight. Bitcoin’s price has pulled back from an all-time high of $126,198.07 reached in October 2025 to approximately $66,000 as of June 1, 2026 — a decline of roughly 45% from peak levels.
Yesterday, Charles Schwab said it is targeting mid-2027 to launch spot crypto trading, custody, and transfers for registered investment advisors, integrating digital assets into its existing advisory infrastructure.
Schwab launches spot Bitcoin trading
It seems that the cooldown has done little to dampen institutional appetite. Schwab separately launched Schwab Crypto™ in April 2026, a spot trading service giving retail clients direct access to Bitcoin and crypto through a phased rollout — the firm’s first foray into direct digital asset ownership beyond ETFs and futures-linked products.
The 24/7 futures access through thinkorswim builds on that momentum. Unlike spot trading, futures contracts allow clients to gain price exposure to Bitcoin without holding the underlying asset, with both standard and micro-sized contracts available.
CME Micro Bitcoin futures trading with a $0.10 multiplier, lower the barrier for retail participants who want leveraged Bitcoin exposure without the capital requirements of full-sized contracts.
“As retail trading continues to advance, we’re committed to adding features and resources that expand our offering,” said James Kostulias, Managing Director and Head of Trading Services at Charles Schwab.
Beyond crypto, the platform update includes expanded fractional and notional trading across most U.S. stocks and ETFs — down to a $1 minimum — along with expected price range data for marginable securities on Schwab.com and dividend reinvestment through Schwab Mobile.
The fractional trading expansion lets clients place dollar-based orders directly from the standard trade ticket, removing the need for a separate experience.
