Key Point
Charles Schwab posted record $7.1 billion revenue and opened direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for retail clients. Adjusted earnings were $1.62 per share, above consensus near $1.55. Client assets rose 22% to a record $13.08 trillion. SCHW shares barely moved near $102.91 after the report. Rick Wurster, CEO since January 2025, said investors opened 1.4 million new brokerage accounts and brought $120 billion in core net new assets to the firm.
Why it matters: Direct crypto access through a major brokerage could make Bitcoin and Ethereum trading easier for retail clients inside existing brokerage accounts.
Market Sentiment
Cautiously Bullish, Event-driven.
Reason: Schwab opened direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for retail clients, which supports access growth but arrives during weak crypto price conditions.
Similar Past Cases
Robinhood launched Robinhood Crypto on Feb. 22, 2018, when the first customers could buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum, and all investors on the platform could track market data for 16 cryptocurrencies. Robinhood also said its brokerage platform had reached more than 4 million users and over $100 billion in transaction volume before the crypto launch. (Robinhood) The difference is that Schwab paired the crypto launch with a record earnings quarter, while the article says Bitcoin and Ethereum were down sharply over the past year.
Ripple Effect
Direct crypto access can move some client demand from funds and futures into brokerage-based spot trading. If client activity rises after the launch, then rival brokers may face stronger pressure to expand crypto access. If activity stays muted, then the effect may remain limited to product positioning.
Opportunities & Risks
Opportunities: When Schwab discloses whether direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading lifts client activity, then stronger engagement would be a potential bullish confirmation for brokerage-linked crypto access. If Cboe prediction market access arrives in the coming months, then broader product use could support the access-growth thesis.
Risks: If Bitcoin and Ethereum weakness continues, then Schwab's crypto launch may not add much near-term trading demand. If SCHW shares stay flat after strong earnings, then taking profit in brokerage-beta exposure can reduce reversal risk.


