Charles Schwab has flipped the switch on nearly round-the-clock crypto futures trading, giving clients access to Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP futures on the thinkorswim platform as of June 4, 2026. The move extends the trading window for major digital asset derivatives to near-continuous operation, offering investors who rely on traditional financial infrastructure a more institutional framework to engage with the crypto ecosystem.
From EDX to thinkorswim: A five-year roadmap
Schwab’s crypto playbook has been incremental. In 2022, the firm became a founding investor in EDX Markets, the institutional crypto exchange backed by Citadel Securities and Fidelity Digital Assets. When EDX launched in June 2023, it started with just four assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash — a deliberately narrow entry into the institutional trading space.
Earlier this year, Schwab rolled out its Schwab Crypto service, giving eligible U.S. retail clients spot trading access for direct ownership of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The latest expansion into 24/7 futures marks a clear step into derivatives, allowing traders to speculate on or hedge price moves without holding the underlying tokens. According to the company, Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and XRP futures can now be traded “nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week” on thinkorswim.
Futures and spot in parallel: 2027 targets in sight
Schwab has already set its sights on the next phase. The brokerage plans to launch spot crypto trading, transfer, and custody services for registered investment advisors by mid-2027, delivered through its existing custody platform. That would complete a multi-phase trajectory: funding an institutional exchange, opening retail spot trading, broadening to near-24/7 futures access, and finally addressing wealth management custody and advisory services.
Futures contracts are derivative agreements to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date, distinct from spot trading where the investor owns the asset directly. By offering continuous access to futures on four of the most liquid cryptocurrencies, Schwab is signaling its confidence in the durability of crypto derivatives demand. Notably, the selection omits earlier assets like Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash, suggesting a focus on depth and institutional interest.
For traditional equity investors accustomed to market-hours-only trading, the always-on nature of crypto futures on thinkorswim represents a significant shift in execution flexibility — even as the underlying crypto market’s notorious volatility remains unchanged.