Charles Schwab Expands Crypto Trading Hours

Charles Schwab has entered the realm of 24/7 cryptocurrency trading by launching near-continuous Bitcoin futures on its thinkorswim platforms. This move marks a significant expansion of round-the-clock market access for investors, particularly retail traders who can now react to overnight or weekend volatility without waiting for a Monday open.

The introduction of crypto futures products, including those for Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and Ripple, is made possible through Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC, a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant and NFA Forex Dealer Member. This regulatory positioning ensures that the product falls within the regulated U.S. futures framework rather than the spot crypto market.

According to Schwab's announcement, its eligible crypto futures cover various products, with traders gaining price exposure and hedging capability without holding the underlying digital assets. The scale of this move is substantial, given Schwab's $12.61 trillion in total client assets, which underscores the distribution scale behind the launch.