Key takeaways
- Charles Schwab launches direct SOL, AVAX and LINK trading
- Brokerage expands cryptocurrency offering to five digital assets
- Retail access grows without guaranteeing new altcoin demand
Charles Schwab has expanded its cryptocurrency trading platform to include Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX) and Chainlink (LINK), giving eligible US retail investors direct access to three additional altcoins alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum.
According to the brokerage's November 9 announcement, the assets are now available through Schwab Crypto accounts, marking the completion of an expansion initially announced in August.
The launch builds on Schwab's earlier Bitcoin and Ethereum trading rollout, extending direct cryptocurrency access through a major traditional brokerage.
Schwab Crypto Expands From Two to Five Cryptocurrencies
Schwab Crypto now supports trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink.
The company began rolling out its cryptocurrency platform in May 2026 before making it available to all eligible retail clients in October.
Investors can view and trade supported digital assets alongside traditional investments through Schwab.com, Schwab Mobile and the thinkorswim platform.
Transaction fees are set at 75 basis points, equivalent to 0.75% of each trade's dollar value. That means a hypothetical $1,000 cryptocurrency purchase would incur a $7.50 transaction fee.
However, the service remains unavailable in New York, Louisiana, US territories and international jurisdictions.
Schwab also emphasized that cryptocurrencies are not FDIC-insured deposits or SIPC-protected securities, meaning customers remain exposed to substantial market risks.
The expansion follows the brokerage's earlier introduction of Solana futures access, although the latest offering allows eligible customers to buy and sell the underlying cryptocurrencies rather than derivatives contracts.
Why Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink?
The three additions represent distinct segments of the blockchain economy.
Solana focuses on high-throughput blockchain applications, including decentralized finance, stablecoin payments and tokenized investments.
Its expanding financial ecosystem recently attracted additional attention when Ondo Finance introduced tokenized portfolios on Solana.
Avalanche supports programmable blockchain applications and institutional tokenization, while Chainlink provides decentralized oracle infrastructure connecting blockchains with external data and financial systems.
Those use cases increasingly overlap with traditional financial institutions' interest in tokenized assets.
A recent Chainlink and Avalanche investment discussion also highlighted how financial advisers are paying greater attention to blockchain infrastructure beyond Bitcoin.
However, Schwab has not disclosed trading volumes or customer allocations for the newly supported tokens.
Will Schwab's Altcoin Launch Increase Institutional Demand?
The announcement represents an important distribution milestone, but broader brokerage availability does not automatically translate into higher token prices.
Schwab's expansion primarily targets eligible retail clients rather than announcing new institutional investment commitments.
Still, allowing customers to manage cryptocurrency exposure alongside stocks and other investments could reduce barriers for investors who previously relied on specialized exchanges.
Other brokerage firms have pursued similar strategies, including Interactive Brokers' expansion into 11 cryptocurrencies for eligible European customers.
Meanwhile, traditional investment products already provide alternatives to direct token ownership, including Grayscale's expanded cryptocurrency fund subscriptions.
