Financial services giant Charles Schwab, managing almost $12 trillion in client assets, has confirmed it remains on track to launch direct spot trading for Bitcoin and Ether in the first half of 2026. The company is moving closer to direct crypto trading and is now offering subscription sign-ups for early access to the Schwab Crypto account. This development represents a major milestone in traditional financial institutions' adoption of cryptocurrency services. The announcement comes as regulatory clarity continues to improve under the current administration, with the passage of the Genius Act last year to regulate stablecoins and ongoing debates around the Clarity Act framework for cryptocurrencies. While some industry participants like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong have expressed concerns about the bill as written, the overall regulatory environment is becoming more favorable for institutional crypto adoption.