Schwab Adds Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink as Crypto Trading Slows

Charles Schwab has expanded its direct crypto trading service by adding Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink on Nov. 9. Customers can now trade five assets on the platform, following early access in May and a broader rollout to eligible retail clients in October. The initial asset lineup consisted of Bitcoin and Ethereum.

This expansion arrives while several industry platforms report lower activity. Coinbase disclosed in an Oct. 29 filing that its monthly transacting users averaged 7.4 million in the third quarter, down from 9.3 million a year earlier, attributing the drop to fewer trading users. Gemini reported second-quarter exchange trading volume of $4 billion, down from $11 billion the prior year, despite a rise in monthly transacting users. At eToro, preliminary August figures showed the invested amount per crypto trade fell to $97 from $325 a year earlier, while Robinhood reported lower third-party crypto transaction revenue and notional volume.

Traditional financial platforms are integrating digital assets as broader trading activity slows down.

Data from CoinGecko indicated that trading volume on the top 10 centralized spot exchanges fell 14.2% in the third quarter compared to the previous period. Meanwhile, Gallup's June survey estimated that 9% of US adults held crypto, down from 14% earlier in the year. Other metrics, such as CoinGecko's average daily trading-volume and perpetual-futures positions, showed mixed momentum across different market segments.

Charles Schwab Expands Crypto Offerings

Traditional financial institutions continue to integrate digital assets into existing customer relationships. Fidelity offers accounts supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, the Fidelity Digital Dollar, Litecoin and Solana, while SoFi introduced crypto functionality into its application in November 2025. These developments allow clients to access digital assets through established banks and brokerages.

Why it matters

The integration of digital assets by major brokerages broadens access for retail participants by placing crypto inside financial relationships customers already maintain. While platform metrics and ownership surveys indicate a slowdown in overall trading activity and user engagement, expanded access through firms like Charles Schwab, Fidelity and SoFi could redistribute trading revenue and capture existing holders without necessarily expanding overall market participation.