Charles Schwab, one of the largest brokerage firms holding $12.61 trillion in total client assets, has made a significant advancement in offering expanded access to cryptocurrency markets. The Westlake, Texas-based brokerage recently announced that select cryptocurrency futures, prominently featuring Bitcoin, are now available for trading nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across all its thinkorswim platforms. This initiative marks a crucial milestone for the firm, representing its first-ever 24/7 product offering in its history.

The flagship product within this new round-the-clock offering is Bitcoin futures, trading with a $5 multiplier. This move into continuous crypto access comes at a notable time, as Bitcoin's price has experienced a significant pullback. After reaching an all-time high of $126,198.07 in October 2025, Bitcoin's value had declined by approximately 45% to around $66,000 as of June 1, 2026. Despite this market volatility, the institutional appetite for digital assets appears undiminished.

Beyond futures, Charles Schwab is also making strides in the spot crypto market. The company has publicly stated its target of mid-2027 to launch spot crypto trading, custody, and transfer services specifically for registered investment advisors (RIAs), aiming to seamlessly integrate these digital assets into its existing advisory infrastructure. Furthermore, in April 2026, Schwab separately introduced Schwab Crypto™, a spot trading service designed to provide retail clients with direct access to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through a phased rollout. This marks Schwab's initial direct foray into digital asset ownership, moving beyond its previous offerings of only ETFs and futures-linked products.

The 24/7 futures access via thinkorswim complements these broader digital asset strategies. Unlike spot trading, which involves owning the underlying asset, futures contracts enable clients to gain price exposure to Bitcoin without the necessity of holding the asset directly. Schwab offers both standard and micro-sized contracts to cater to a wider range of investors. Notably, CME Micro Bitcoin futures, trading with a $0.10 multiplier, are available, effectively lowering the barrier for retail participants who seek leveraged Bitcoin exposure but may not meet the capital requirements associated with full-sized contracts.

James Kostulias, Managing Director and Head of Trading Services at Charles Schwab, affirmed the company's commitment, stating, “As retail trading continues to advance, we’re committed to adding features and resources that expand our offering.” In addition to these significant cryptocurrency developments, the platform update also includes other enhancements. These include expanded fractional and notional trading capabilities across the majority of U.S. stocks and ETFs, with a minimum trading threshold of $1. Clients can now place dollar-based orders directly from the standard trade ticket, streamlining the process. The update also features expected price range data for marginable securities on Schwab.com and improved dividend reinvestment options through Schwab Mobile.