Two major traditional financial institutions are advancing their cryptocurrency operations through different market strategies. Charles Schwab has expanded its Schwab Crypto platform to all eligible US retail clients, while Deutsche Bank is preparing to launch institutional digital-asset custody services.
Schwab Broadens Retail Access
Charles Schwab opened its crypto trading platform to its broader retail client base following an earlier announcement to add Solana, Chainlink, and Avalanche to the platform. The service allows investors to hold and trade cryptocurrencies directly alongside stocks and other traditional investment products.
Schwab Premier Bank serves as custodian, with Paxos handling trade execution and sub-custody. Crypto holdings are not covered by Securities Investor Protection Corporation protections in the same way as securities held in conventional brokerage accounts.
The move represents a significant development for retail crypto adoption, given that Charles Schwab manages approximately $12 trillion in client assets.
Deutsche Bank Launches Institutional Custody
Deutsche Bank announced preparations to launch a digital-asset custody service in Germany within the coming weeks. The initial offering will support Bitcoin and Ethereum custody before expanding to include stablecoin transactions.
The bank also plans to offer tokenized deposits and blockchain-based securities issuance, including digital bonds. According to Gerald Podobnik, co-head of the bank, these blockchain solutions will complement traditional offerings rather than replace them.
Deutsche Bank intends to expand these services beyond Europe into major Asian financial centers in the following year as part of a broader strategy to capture growth in the digital economy.
