Charles Schwab has taken its most direct step yet into 24/7 cryptocurrency access, announcing that select cryptocurrency futures – including Bitcoin – are now available for trading 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, which trade at a $5 multiplier, represent the flagship product of the new round-the-clock offering — one that Schwab is calling its first 24/7 product in the firm’s history.
Timing is important. Bitcoin’s price has retreated from an all-time high of $126,198.07 reached in October 2025 to approximately $66,000 per June 1, 2026 – a decline of about 45% from peak levels.
Yesterday, Charles Schwab said it aims to launch spot crypto trading, custody and transfers for registered investment advisers by mid-2027, integrating digital assets into its existing advisory infrastructure.
Schwab Launches Spot Bitcoin Trading
It appears that the cooling-off has done little to dampen the institutions’ appetite. Separately, Schwab launched Schwab Crypto™ in April 2026, a spot trading service that gives retail clients direct access to Bitcoin and crypto through a gradual rollout — the firm’s first foray into direct ownership of digital assets beyond ETFs and futures-linked products.
The 24/7 futures access through thinkorswim builds on this momentum. Unlike spot trading, futures contracts allow customers to gain price exposure to Bitcoin without holding the underlying asset, with both standard and micro contracts available.
CME Micro Bitcoin futures trade with a $0.10 multiplier, lowering the barrier for retail participants who want leveraged Bitcoin exposure without the capital requirements of full-sized contracts.
“As retail continues to evolve, we are committed to adding features and resources that expand our offerings,” said James Kostulias, managing director and head of merchant services at Charles Schwab.
In addition to crypto, the platform update includes expanded fractional and fictitious trading across most US stocks and ETFs — down to a minimum of $1 — along with projected price range data for marginable securities on Schwab.com and dividend reinvestment through Schwab Mobile.
The fractional trade extension lets clients place dollar-based orders directly from the standard trade ticket, eliminating the need for a separate experience.