Bitcoin Futures at Charles Schwab
If you’re interested in cryptocurrency investing, Charles Schwab offers several ways to gain exposure to the digital-asset
market, including cryptocurrency ETPs and futures contracts. Schwab does not yet offer direct cryptocurrency trading. In the second half of the article, we will also
discuss how to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies directly through Webull. Here’s how to get started with futures:
First, Open a Futures Account
Schwab doesn’t yet offer direct cryptocurrency trading. However, it does offer cryptocurrency futures contracts. CME Group offers Bitcoin futures and Micro Bitcoin futures. With a Schwab brokerage account that is approved for futures trading, you can trade these Bitcoin contracts.
Options on Bitcoin futures are also available through an approved Schwab futures account.
Cost of Trading Bitcoin on Schwab
Schwab charges $2.25 per contract, per side for futures trades, including Bitcoin futures. Broker-assisted futures trades have the same commission rate. Futures options follow the same commission schedule. Exchange, regulatory, and overnight fees may also apply.
Trading Bitcoin Futures at Schwab
If you decide that futures contracts are the way you want to trade the cryptocurrency market, you’ll need to use the thinkorswim platform suite. Cryptocurrency futures are available on thinkorswim desktop, thinkorswim web, and thinkorswim mobile. thinkorswim web is Schwab’s browser-based platform and can be launched after logging in to a Schwab account.
Charles Schwab Website
Webull Crypto as an Alternative
If you don’t care for Schwab’s futures service, you could instead trade cryptocurrencies through
a crypto account. Several online brokers now offer this service. Webull is one of them.
Webull does not charge a separate commission on cryptocurrency trades,
but a 1% spread is included in the price of each purchase and sale. The spread does not apply to stablecoins. Webull also offers a selection of directly tradable coins, while Schwab does not yet offer direct cryptocurrency trading:
- Avalanche (AVAX)
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Ethereum Classic (ETC)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Polygon (POL)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- Solana (SOL)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Tether (USDT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
It’s possible to trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at Webull 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except during any applicable maintenance windows. CME Group cryptocurrency
futures and options are also available nearly around the clock, except during brief weekday and weekend maintenance periods.
Webull’s minimum cryptocurrency order is generally $2. The minimum is $1 for customers in New York, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Futures trades typically require significantly more capital because the trader must meet the applicable margin requirement.
Placing Bitcoin Trades on Webull’s Software
Webull provides cryptocurrency trading through its mobile app and desktop platform. Trades can be placed using market, limit, or stop-limit orders. Quantity can be specified
either in dollars or coins, and fractional amounts can be used. Webull does not permit short positions in cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can be charted, making it easy to follow price movements in real time. A quote box next to a chart displays the order book for a coin, including the midpoint between the bid and ask prices. The chart displays the midpoint, which is not an actual trade price.
A useful feature on Webull’s computer platforms is the ability to create a drop-down menu on a chart with the click of a mouse. Available choices in this menu include adding a coin to a watchlist, creating an alert, and populating an order ticket.
Webull’s mobile app has profiles for digital currencies with ample information. Profiles include price tiles for other coins, and news articles are also available. These articles have thumbnails for easy browsing. The app also provides horizontal charting with tools.
One feature the mobile app has that the other platforms don’t is a bulletin board where traders can post comments about an asset. It’s easy to comment on these posts and like or dislike them. For Bitcoin, we found a very active forum.
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Written by Alex Bost
Updated on 8/5/2026.
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