ETrade is looking to unleash crypto onto its 5M retail clientele

Markets • April 26, 2019, 4:28PM EDT

UPDATED: April 26, 2019, 4:39PM EDT

ETrade, the massive retail brokerage firm, is looking to unleash crypto trading onto its 5 million person retail base, according to prominent New York Times crypto journalist Nathaniel Popper. In a tweet, Popper said the firm is preparing to offer ether and bitcoin trading.

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“In the wake of TD Ameritrade quietly opening Bitcoin trading for some of its customers, I was just told that eTrade is preparing to begin offering both Bitcoin and Ether trading to its 5 million or so customers and is just finalizing a third party to actually hold the coins,” Popper said.

Rival TDAmeritrade, meanwhile, is looking to dive into retail crypto trading, as The Block reported earlier this week.

About Author

Ryan Todd is a research analyst at The Block where he focuses on the convergence of fintech and digital assets. Previously he worked at Deutsche Bank as an equity analyst covering consumer finance and payments companies, and also spent time at ConsenSys exploring the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Ryan holds a BS in Economics and Accounting/Finance from Florida State University, and MS Finance from Vanderbilt University.