Brokerage expands crypto access with round-the-clock micro contracts
Charles Schwab announced on June 3, 2026, that select cryptocurrency futures, including Bitcoin, are now available to trade nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across all thinkorswim platforms. The offering marks the firm’s first round-the-clock product and represents a significant expansion of crypto access for retail traders at the Westlake, Texas-based brokerage.
Bitcoin futures trade with a $5 multiplier on thinkorswim, while CME Micro Bitcoin futures carry a $0.10 multiplier, lowering barriers for retail participants. Futures contracts allow clients to gain price exposure without holding underlying assets. The announcement comes as Bitcoin trades near $66,000 as of June 1, 2026, down 45% from its all-time high of $126,198.07 reached in October 2025.
Expansion of existing crypto services
The near-24/7 futures offering builds on Schwab Crypto™, the firm’s spot trading service launched in April 2026. That service provides retail clients direct access to Bitcoin and crypto through a phased rollout. James Kostulias, Managing Director and Head of Trading Services at Charles Schwab, said: “As retail trading continues to advance, we’re committed to adding features and resources that expand our offering.”
Schwab holds $12.61 trillion in total client assets and processed an average of 10.3 million daily trades in April 2026. The brokerage has also expanded fractional and notional trading across U.S. stocks and ETFs down to a $1 minimum, allowing dollar-based orders directly from the standard trade ticket.
Roadmap for advisory services
The firm has set a mid-2027 target launch date for spot crypto trading, custody, and transfers for registered investment advisors. This phased approach suggests Schwab is building infrastructure to serve both retail and institutional clients in the cryptocurrency market, though the exact rollout schedule remains undisclosed.
The near-24/7 availability on thinkorswim positions Schwab to capture traders seeking extended trading windows. The platform update also includes dividend reinvestment capability through Schwab Mobile, expanding the firm’s toolkit for active traders and long-term investors alike.
