Charles Schwab, one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, is preparing to launch a spot cryptocurrency trading platform within the next year.

This marks a major move by one of the most trusted names in traditional finance and shows that demand for crypto investment options continues to climb.

Charles Schwab Eyes Crypto Expansion

During a recent earnings call, Schwab CEO Rick Wurster said the firm is optimistic about upcoming regulatory changes that could allow it to fully enter crypto trading.

“Our expectation is that with the changing regulatory environment, we are hopeful and likely to be able to launch direct spot crypto and our goal is to do that in the next 12 months and we’re on a great path to be able to do that,” Wurster explained.

This move would allow the company to offer direct access to spot crypto trading and place it in direct competition with major players like Coinbase and Binance.

While the company already offers crypto-related products such as Bitcoin futures and crypto ETFs, the addition of direct trading would significantly expand its crypto portfolio. According to the CEO, engagement on these products has grown rapidly in recent months.

Wurster revealed that visits to the firm’s crypto-focused content have surged 400%. Of that traffic, 70% came from users who are not yet customers, showing a growing appetite for digital asset investments.

Wurster’s confidence in crypto aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to introduce a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets. Compared to past years, progress on crypto legislation and oversight has accelerated, especially among key regulatory bodies like the SEC.

If these improvements continue, Schwab could debut its spot crypto trading platform before mid-2026. The firm believes its reputation in traditional finance gives it a strategic advantage in expanding into the crypto space.

Meanwhile, Schwab is already dipping its toes into the sector through its role as custodian for Truth.Fi, an upcoming digital investment platform launched by Trump Media and Technology Group. Truth.Fi plans to offer a mix of Bitcoin, separately managed accounts, and other crypto-linked products.

Indeed, Schwab’s potential entry into the sector has drawn attention from other industry leaders. Asset management firm Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley described the brokerage firm’s move as a milestone in crypto’s transition to mainstream finance.

Rachael Horwitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Haun Ventures, echoed that sentiment and encouraged Schwab to consider crypto-collateralized lending as a future offering.

“Schwab should implement crypto-collateralized lending as part of its banking services next,” Horwitz said.

Veteran market analyst Peter Brandt has issued a gloomy year-end forecast for XRP, suggesting the asset may struggle to maintain its momentum despite recent gains.

On April 18, Brandt shared his updated analysis on X (formerly Twitter), projecting two possible scenarios for XRP’s market capitalization by year’s end.

Cautionary Outlook for XRP Despite Recent Surge

The first scenario places XRP’s market cap around $116.67 billion, while the second offers a more bearish outlook of just above $60 billion.

Essentially, both figures imply a decline from XRP’s current valuation of roughly $2.09 per token at a market capitalization of $121 billion.

Brandt’s analysis is based on a technical pattern he previously identified on XRP’s price chart.

According to him, the formation resembles a classic head-and-shoulders setup—a pattern that often signals a trend reversal. If this plays out, XRP could fall as low as $1.07.

He added then that a move below $1.90 would confirm the pattern and likely trigger a steep correction of more than 50%. However, a break above $3 could invalidate the bearish outlook.

“XRP is forming a textbook H&S pattern. So, we are now range bound. Above 3.000 I would not want to be short. Below 1.9 I would not want to own it,” Brandt explained.

This cautious forecast follows a remarkable surge in XRP’s price since late 2024.

Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the token rallied over 300%, reaching a high of $3.28 before pulling back to its current level.

This price performance has led many investors to believe that the Trump administration’s friendlier stance toward digital assets could help the asset continue its rally.

One major catalyst was the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to drop several lawsuits against crypto companies, including Ripple.

That shift reduced regulatory uncertainty and sparked renewed interest in XRP, culminating in the launch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on the product.

Adding to the momentum, Ripple launched its own stablecoin, RLUSD, aiming to tap into a growing segment of the digital asset market.

Still, Brandt’s warning suggests that XRP’s recent rally may not be sustainable if bearish pressure intensifies.

Ripple Not Rushing Into IPO Despite Industry Trend

Amid renewed attention on XRP’s performance, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has addressed growing speculation about the company going public.

In a recent video shared on X, Garlinghouse made it clear that Ripple does not plan to file for an IPO in 2025.

He emphasized that the company is not actively seeking external funding because it remains financially stable and is prioritizing product development and business expansion.

“Will we IPO in 2025? I think that’s a definitive no…We’ve said there’s no imminent plans to go public,” Garlinghouse stated.

While the company isn’t moving forward with an IPO this year, Garlinghouse didn’t completely close the door.

He noted that Ripple is evaluating whether going public would benefit the business in the long run. However, such a move isn’t a current priority.

“You have to ask yourself, okay, how does Ripple benefit from being a public company? And is it a high priority for us?” he said.

Moreover, Garlinghouse also hinted that the regulatory landscape—especially under new leadership at the SEC—could influence Ripple’s future decisions.

His comments come as several crypto firms, including Kraken and Ciecle, reportedly prepare for IPOs. For now, though, Ripple appears comfortable staying private until conditions become more favorable.