Charles Schwab is expanding its cryptocurrency offering beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, bringing Solana (SOL), Avalanche (AVAX) and Chainlink (LINK) to a platform used by millions of investors.

The move, announced on August 27, marks another step into crypto for one of the biggest U.S. brokerages. Schwab launched direct crypto trading in May 2026 with Bitcoin and Ethereum and now plans to give clients direct access to three major altcoins alongside traditional investments in the coming months, according to an official announcement.

The expansion also puts Schwab in more direct competition with crypto-native exchanges, while giving existing brokerage customers a way to trade digital assets without opening a separate crypto account.

Why Charles Schwab is adding SOL, AVAX and LINK

Charles Schwab says the three assets were selected as part of an effort to expand its digital asset offering with established cryptocurrencies that align with client demand. The company did not provide a detailed explanation for why SOL, AVAX and LINK were chosen specifically.

Joe Vietri, Charles Schwab's Head of Digital Assets, said the expansion will give clients more choices when building a digital asset allocation alongside their existing investing and banking activities.

The three tokens also broaden the range of crypto exposure available through Schwab. Solana (SOL) and Avalanche (AVAX) are Layer-1 blockchain networks with retail and institutional exposure, respectively, while Chainlink (LINK) provides blockchain oracle infrastructure. However, Schwab has not stated that these different use cases were the reason for selecting these particular altcoins.

For a major brokerage, adding spot access to additional tokens matters because it extends crypto trading deeper into the same account and interface many investors already use for stocks, ETFs and cash management. That keeps the focus on direct ownership rather than crypto-linked products.

Trading terms and future additions

The new option will let clients buy and sell SOL, AVAX and LINK directly, with no ETFs or derivatives involved. Trading is priced at 75 basis points per trade, which Schwab positions as among the lowest in the industry.

Schwab also said the expansion will not stop with SOL, AVAX and LINK. The brokerage plans to add additional cryptocurrencies and digital assets over time, although it has not announced which assets will come next.

All three altcoins took the news in stride. Over the past 24 hours, SOL climbed 1.4%, while AVAX and LINK each slipped about 1.3% and 1.2%, respectively.

Scope and market context

The offering remains limited to U.S. residents, excluding a large share of global crypto investors.

Schwab's expansion signals a push to become a mainstream venue for spot crypto trading, not just crypto-linked ETFs, placing the brokerage in more direct competition with dedicated exchanges.

Source: DailyCoin