Tens of millions of Charles Schwab retail clients will soon gain direct access to trade Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX), and Chainlink (LINK). The brokerage firm, which manages hundreds of billions of dollars in assets, announced plans to add the three altcoins to its Schwab Crypto platform in the coming months, without specifying an exact launch date.
The expansion comes roughly three months after Schwab launched direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for select retail clients. Previously, clients could only gain crypto market exposure through Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) or by purchasing shares of industry-related companies, such as Coinbase and Strategy.
Schwab’s Head of Digital Assets, Joe Vietri, stated that the move aligns with the firm’s approach of offering access to crypto assets that are already familiar to the public. Once the new trading features launch, clients will be able to trade across all of Schwab’s digital channels - from the main website and mobile app to the thinkorswim trading platform.
Transaction Fees and Profiles of the Three Altcoins
To support the new service, Schwab has set a uniform fee of 75 basis points, or 0.75%, per transaction. In real terms, clients will pay just $7.50 for every $1,000 traded. The firm claims its fee structure is among the lowest in the brokerage industry.
The three newly selected assets represent distinct network utilities. Solana is designed as a high-speed, low-cost blockchain targeting payments and gaming ecosystems. Avalanche provides a platform for developers to build custom blockchain networks. Meanwhile, Chainlink operates as a data oracle tasked with feeding real-world information into blockchain smart contracts.
Stablecoin Exploration Yet to Materialize
Schwab began showing interest in expanding further into the digital asset market throughout 2024, coinciding with U.S. regulations gradually offering greater legal clarity for traditional financial institutions. The firm’s plans extend beyond merely providing coin trading services.
In early 2025, CEO Rick Wurster stated that the company intended to explore options for issuing a US dollar-pegged stablecoin. However, as Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink prepare to join the platform, the brokerage’s stablecoin concept has yet to be followed by any further official announcements.
Schwab’s move to broaden its crypto offerings highlights the shrinking divide between traditional financial markets and digital assets. With 80 million retail clients gaining single-portal access to specific altcoins, products once confined to crypto exchanges are now integrating into mainstream portfolio applications.
Reported by Decrypt.
Read also: How to Read Candlesticks for Beginners
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
