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Crypto Mainstreaming is Here and Charles Schwab is Ready

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On April 7, 2026, Charles Schwab published an article “Crypto’s move into the mainstream.” The article shows a shift in Schwab’s position, from crypto skeptic to accepting the mainstream trend toward adoption.

Charles Schwab CEO Walt Bettinger said crypto was “purely speculative” in 2019. He noted that crypto lacked fundamentals and was roughly three times as volatile as the S&P 500.

By 2021, his stance had softened but still with a healthy dose of skepticism.

In an interview with ThinkAdvisor, Bettinger said:

“It’s become large enough and consumer awareness is high enough that you can’t ignore it. However, from a corporate standpoint, we don’t really take a viewpoint on whether it’s right for investors …. Personally, I really have no opinion on Bitcoin as an investment any more than I do artwork or the explosion in values of baseball cards,” he added.

Bettinger also said there will be “more and more ways to invest in crypto — maybe ways that are a bit safer than direct purchases.” That seems to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. In mid-April, Schwab announced the launch of its cryptocurrency investment product, Schwab Crypto, which will provide clients with trading services for Bitcoin and Ethereum.