Charles Schwab has flipped the switch on 24/7 cryptocurrency futures trading across its thinkorswim platform, adding round-the-clock access to Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and XRP derivatives for its clients.
A Mainstream Broker Goes All-In on Crypto Hours
The update means eligible U.S. clients can now trade crypto futures nearly nonstop — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — across all thinkorswim interfaces. Crypto markets don’t close on weekends, and now one of America’s largest retail brokers isn’t pretending otherwise.
Schwab isn’t new to crypto, but the pace of expansion has picked up. The firm was a founding investor in EDX Markets back in 2022, backing the institutional exchange alongside Citadel Securities and Fidelity Digital Assets. EDX launched trading in 2023 with just Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.
The Steady March Into Digital Assets
This year, Schwab rolled out Schwab Crypto™ — a spot trading service giving retail clients direct ownership of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The futures launch is the next logical step, letting clients take leveraged positions without leaving a platform they already use.
And there’s more coming. Reportedly, Schwab is targeting mid-2027 to offer spot crypto trading, transfers, and custody to registered investment advisors on its custody platform. That would open the door to a massive pool of managed assets that currently can’t touch digital assets through their existing advisors.
Why XRP Futures Matter
The inclusion of XRP specifically is notable. Ripple’s token has had a turbulent 2026, hovering around $1.15 after dropping from higher levels earlier in the year. Getting listed alongside BTC and ETH on a major brokerage’s derivatives platform gives XRP a legitimacy bump — and gives traders a way to hedge or speculate position without touching spot markets.
XRP futures availability at a Schwab-level institution also signals confidence in the regulatory clarity around the asset. The SEC’s case against Ripple has been winding down, and major brokers don’t list tokens they expect to get hammered with enforcement actions.
The Bigger Picture
Schwab manages over $8 trillion in client assets. Even a small allocation flowing through its crypto products would be significant for market depth. The 24/7 futures launch might seem incremental, but it normalizes crypto as a standard asset class alongside equities and options.
Watch for other major brokers to follow. When Schwab moves, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade (owned by Schwab), and others tend to match within months. The race to offer full crypto services at the retail brokerage level is accelerating.
