The Roth IRA remains one of the most powerful tax-advantaged tools for American retirement savers; contributions grow tax-free, qualified withdrawals are tax-free after the five-year aging requirement and a qualifying condition such as age 59.5, and there are no required minimum distributions during your lifetime.
However, what has evolved is the asset menu. A growing segment of providers now lets you buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, gold, and altcoins inside a tax-sheltered account alongside, or instead of, traditional equities.
The United States Government has created a policy that every American preparing for retirement should have access to funds that include investments in alternative assets. This updated June 2026 guide compares six providers to help you find the best Roth IRA account of 2026 for your situation.
1. iTrustCapital
Supported Assets: 95+ cryptocurrency assets, including Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, USDC, Ripple USD and physical gold and silver. iTrustCapital also offers ETH and SOL staking and USDC/RLUSD stablecoin rewards, subject to eligibility, availability, and changing reward rates. They will be launching stocks and ETFs soon, where they will have crypto, precious metals, and traditional assets all in one platform.
Pricing/Fees: iTrustCapital offers Roth IRAs with a 1% crypto transaction fee and no monthly or annual account fees. For precious metals, you can find their fees here.
Tax advantages: All transactions inside the Roth IRA generate no immediate taxable event. Crypto and metals gains can grow entirely tax-free, with no capital gains on rebalancing. Qualified Roth IRA withdrawals may be tax-free if IRS requirements are met, including the 5-year rule and a qualifying condition upon reaching age 59.5.
Account Types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, 401(k) rollovers, IRA transfers, Premium Custody Accounts (taxable accounts), and Treasury Accounts for businesses, trusts, and non-profits.
Security and Custody: Assets are secured in their closed-loop system. USD is held with regulated banks and custodians, and crypto assets are secured through institutional storage providers utilizing cold-storage, HSM, and MPC.
Contribution Limits: Standard IRS limits apply (2026 contribution limits are $7,500 / $8,600 for those 50+).
Rollover Process: Rollovers from 401(k)s and IRAs typically complete within five to 10 business days.
User Experiences: 24/7 access via desktop and mobile with real-time pricing. iTrustCapital reports facilitating over $17 billion in transactions.
Pros:
- Low 1% transaction fee, no recurring charges
- No monthly or annual account fees
- 95+ assets, including crypto, USDC, RLUSD, gold and silver.
- ETH and SOL staking available for eligible accounts.
- Award-winning US-based live client support
- Stocks and ETFs coming soon
- Secure closed-loop system
Cons:
- US based only
- Staking and stablecoin rewards may change.
Use Cases: Long-term retirement savers seeking diverse exposure to crypto, metals, and soon traditional assets (stocks and ETFs) with tax-free growth and a competitive, straightforward fee structure. Clients can trust the platform as iTrustCapital has over 15,000 positive reviews across Google & Trustpilot.
2. Fidelity
Supported Assets: Fidelity supports a broad range of traditional assets, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, and CDs. Fidelity also offers crypto exposure in retirement accounts, but direct crypto is handled through a separate Fidelity Crypto® for IRAs account rather than a standard Fidelity brokerage IRA. Eligible investors may open Fidelity Crypto Traditional, Roth, or Rollover IRAs, subject to availability and state restrictions.
Pricing/Fees: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs; Fidelity’s ZERO index fund series carries no expense ratio. Fidelity offers Fidelity Crypto® for IRAs (not available in California or Oregon), including a Roth IRA, and supports direct crypto exposure. Fidelity’s crypto buy/sell transactions carry a 1% fee, with no account-opening, maintenance, or crypto custody fee.
Tax Advantages: After-tax contributions grow tax-free, with tax-free qualified withdrawals after age 59.5 and satisfaction of the 5-year rule
Account Types: Roth, Traditional, SEP, SIMPLE, and rollover IRAs, self-employed 401(k) also available.
Security and Custody: Fidelity brokerage accounts are covered by SIPC up to applicable limits, with additional excess SIPC coverage. However, SIPC coverage applies to eligible brokerage assets and does not protect against market losses or extend to direct crypto custody in the same way.
Contribution Limits: Standard IRS limits apply ($7,500 / $8,600 for those 50+).
Rollover Process: Rollovers from 401(k)s and other IRAs accepted at no added fee via a streamlined online transfer process.
User Experience: Fidelity serves millions of individual investors. Desktop and mobile platforms are mature and backed by a robust research suite.
Pros:
- Diverse asset selection
- Index funds
- Institutional-grade tools
- Direct crypto IRA now available via Fidelity® Crypto
Cons:
- Crypto IRA asset list is limited to four assets compared with dedicated crypto IRA providers
- The platform’s depth can feel overwhelming for beginners
- Fidelity® Crypto not available in all 50 states
3. Vanguard
Supported Assets: Stocks, ETFs, bonds, CDs, and Vanguard’s renowned lineup of low-cost index mutual funds, including VTSAX, VTI and VXUS. Vanguard does not offer direct crypto exposure within its IRA accounts.
Pricing/Fees: Vanguard changes $0 commissions on all ETF and stock trades. The standard IRA brokerage account carries a $20 annual account fee, waived by enrolling in e-delivery of documents or by holding $10,000 or more in Vanguard assets. Vanguard mutual funds carry no transaction fees, and the firm’s average expense ratio across all funds stands at just 0.06%.
Tax Advantages: After-tax contributions grow entirely tax-free. Qualified Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free if IRS requirements are met, including the 5-year rule and a qualifying condition such as attaining age 59.5.
Account Types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, and Spousal IRA.
Security and Custody: Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company serves as the custodian for Vanguard IRAs. Brokerage accounts are covered by SIPC up to applicable limits.
Contribution Limits: Standard IRS limits apply ($7,500 / $8,600 for those 50+).
Rollover Process: 401(k) and IRA rollovers are accepted at no added fee through a streamlined online transfer process.
User Experience: Vanguard serves millions of individual investors and is widely regarded as the benchmark for low-cost index fund investing. The desktop and mobile platforms are mature and backed by solid educational tools and retirement calculators, though the interface is more utilitarian.
Pros:
- Industry-leading low-cost index funds with an average expense ratio of 0.06%
- $20 annual fee easily waived for most investors
- $0 commissions on all ETF and stock trades
Cons:
- No direct crypto currency exposure available in IRAs
- Platform design is less modern than newer entrants
Use Cases: Long-term, buy-and-hold retirement investors seeking maximum cost efficiency through index funds, with no interest in alternative or digital assets.
4. SoFi
Supported Assets: Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, 27 crypto currencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, IPOs, and ADRs. Crypto staking and crypto-to-crypto trading pairs are not available.
Pricing/Fees: SoFi offers $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and alternative asset interval funds within an IRA, with no maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. Crypto trades carry a 1% fee per transaction, rising to 2% for SoFi Plus members during promotional periods.
Tax Advantages: Standard Roth IRA tax-free growth applies to all securities. Crypto held within the IRA followers self-directed IRA tax rules. Qualified withdrawals may be tax-free if IRS requirements are met, including the 5-year rule and qualifying conditions such as attaining age 59.5
Account Types: Roth IRA and Traditional IRA. Each account type is available in both active and automated modes.
Security and Custody: SIPC insurance protects investments up to $500,000.
Contribution Limits: Standard IRS limits apply ($7,500 / $8,600 for those 50+).
Rollover Process: Rollover support is available but requires more manual steps than dedicated IRA providers.
User Experience: SoFi is a beginner-friendly platform combining integrated banking and investing in one app. The mobile experience is polished and modern. However the platform lacks advanced research and analysis tools.
Pros:
- $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds
- 1% IRA contribution match is a rare industry differentiator
Cons:
- High exit costs – $100 ACAT transfer fee and $100 IRA closing fee create meaningful lock-in
- No crypto staking or crypto-to-crypto trading pairs
Use Cases: Beginner and passive investors who want a unified banking and investing experience with broad asset access, a contribution match incentive, and a streamlined mobile-first interface.
5. Public.com
Supported Assets: Public offers brokerage IRA access to securities through Public Investing and a separate Crypto IRA structure with crypto services through zerohash. Public positions this as a more unified retirement experience, but the Crypto IRA is separate from the standard IRA/brokerage account.
Pricing/Fees: $0 commission on stocks and ETFs. Public Crypto IRA has two main crypto IRA fees: a zerohash dynamic transaction fee with a minimum 1.25% built into the order, plus a 0.05% monthly custody fee. Transaction fees paid during the month are credited toward the custody fee.
Tax Advantages: Standard Roth IRA tax-free growth applies to securities positions. Crypto IRA tax treatment follows standard self-directed IRA rules; qualified withdrawals may be tax-free if IRS requirements, including the 5-year rule and qualifying conditions such as attaining age 59.5, are met.
Account Types: Roth IRA and Traditional IRA. No SEP IRA currently available through the IRA product.
Security and Custody: Equity assets are SIPC-insured. Crypto held through a third-party custodian, insurance details are less prominent than dedicated crypto IRA providers.
Contribution Limits: Standard IRS limits apply ($7,500 / $8,600 for those 50+).
Rollover Process: Rollover support available but requires more manual steps than dedicated IRA providers.
User Experience: Social, feature-rich app built for a younger demographic. The IRA product, introduced in 2023, is still maturing relative to the brokerage side.
Pros:
- Genuinely multi-asset IRA
- Polished mobile experience
- No equity commissions
Cons:
- IRA products are less full-featured than dedicated providers
- Crypto custody disclosures lack detail
- High fees
- Crypto IRA fee and custody structure is more complex than a simple ‘transaction fee’ – minimum 1.25% dynamic fee plus a separate monthly custody fee
Use Cases: Investors who want stocks, bonds, and crypto in a single account without managing multiple platforms.
6. Charles Schwab
Supported Assets: Supports a wide range of assets including all listed stocks, ETFs, and thousands of mutual funds through Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource. Bonds, options, futures, REITs, and stocks are also available.
Pricing/Fees: Schwab charges $0 for IRA account opening, maintenance, and minimum balance requirements. Stock and ETF trades are commission-free. Schwab is launching spot cryptocurrency trading, initially supporting Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Tax Advantages: After-tax contributions to a Schwab Roth IRA grow entirely tax-free. Qualified withdrawals are tax-free if IRS requirements are met.
Account Types: Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Inherited, and Custodial IRAs, plus a Personal Choice Retirement Account are available.
Security and Custody: Schwab brokerage accounts are covered by SIPC up to $500,000, with additional coverage secured through an agreement with Lloyd’s of London, totalling $600 million across all Schwab brokerage clients.
Contribution Limits: Standard IRS limits apply ($7,500 / $8,600 for those 50+).
Rollover Process: Fully managed through a clear three-step online process, with rollover consultants available by phone throughout.
User Experience: Schwab operates over 300 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S and offers the award-winning thinkorswim trading platform, originally from TD Ameritrade. The platform is suited for beginners and experienced investors.
Pros:
- $0 commissions, no account fees, no minimums
- Spot crypto trading recently launched
- 300+ physical branches for in-person support
Cons:
- Platform depth can be overwhelming for beginners
Use Cases: Investors of all experience levels seeking a full-service, zero-fee brokerage IRA with institutional-grade tools, broad asset access, and the emerging ability to hold spot Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside traditional equities in a single account.
Summary Comparison Table
| Provider | Fees | Key Feature | Best For | Limitation |
| iTrustCapital | 1% cryptocurrency transaction fee, no monthly/annual account fees; separate precious metal pricing | 95+ assets, crypto + precious metals, ETH/SOL staking, USDC/RLUSD stablecoin rewards, stocks/etfs coming soon | Low-cost crypto, staking, stablecoin, and metals exposure in a retirement-focused platform | No traditional equities or bonds (will be launching summer 2026) |
| Fidelity | $0 stock/ETF commissions; 1% crypto transaction fee in Fidelity Crypto IRA | Traditional brokerage IRA plus separate direct crypto IRA option | Investors who want traditional assets and limited direct crypto access from a major brokerage | Crypto IRA asset list is limited to four assets compared with dedicated crypto IRA providers |
| Vanguard | $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs, $20 annual fee, average fund expense ratio of 0.06% | Industry-leading low-cost index fund lineup including VTSAX, VTI, and VXUS, no crypto exposure | Long-term buy and hold index investors seeking maximum cost efficiency | No direct crypto exposure available in IRAs |
| SoFi | $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds; 1% crypto transaction fee per trade, $100 ACAT and IRA closing fee | Integrated banking and investing platform with multiple cryptocurrencies | Beginner and passive investors wanting a unified banking and investing app | High exit costs; no crypto staking or crypto to crypto trading pairs, robo-advisor carries a 0.25% annual fee |
| Public.com | Minimum 1.25% crypto transaction fee plus 0.05% monthly crypto custody fee | Brokerage app with separate Crypto IRA offering | Investors who want a consumer-friendly app and access to both securities and crypto | Crypto IRA fee/custody structure is more complex than the original draft suggests |
| Charles Schwab | $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs, no account fees or minimums, spot Bitcoin and Ethereum via Schwab Crypto | Full-service brokerage with thinkorswim trading platform, 300+ physical branches | Investors of all experience levels seeking a zero-fee, full service IRA with institutional grade tools and emerging crypto access | Spot crypto offering newly launched and limited to two assets; no external wallet transfers supported |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes but only through providers built for alternative assets. Most traditional brokerages do not support direct crypto and physical precious metals in the same IRA. iTrustCapital offers crypto plus physical gold and silver exposure through its platform, while BitcoinIRA also offers certain gold exposure.
Transactions executed within a Roth IRA generally do not create a taxable event. Qualified Roth IRA withdrawals may be tax-free if IRS rules are met, including the five-year rule and a qualifying condition such as attaining age 59½ or older.
Crypto IRAs are generally structured as self-directed IRAs and must comply with IRS rules on contribution limits, prohibited transactions, rollovers, distributions, and qualified custody arrangements.
The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500, or $8,600 if age 50+, and that limit applies across all Traditional and Roth IRAs combined. It is not a separate limit for each IRA account.
No. Staking rewards and stablecoin rewards should not be described as guaranteed, fixed, risk-free, or interest-bearing. Reward availability and rates can change based on network conditions, eligibility requirements, market conditions, regulatory guidance, and provider policies.
Conclusion
The Problem: Traditional retirement accounts often feel like walled gardens, tethering your future to paper assets while ignoring the explosive potential of digital and hard assets. Navigating the trade-offs between legacy security and modern asset access remains the primary hurdle for the modern saver.
Key Takeaways: Your choice hinges on your strategy. Investors must strike a balance between low-cost equities and value for alternative exposure. In 2026, fee transparency is your best friend; don’t let high per-trade costs erode your compound growth.
Next Steps:
- Audit your current holdings to see where you are underweight in alternatives.
- Compare the long-term cost of flat monthly fees versus percentage-based trading.
- Consider a rollover to consolidate tax-sheltered gains; note that Roth conversions may be taxable events, consult a tax advisor before initiating.
iTrustCapital is a fintech software platform for alternative assets. iTrustCapital is not an exchange, funding portal, custodian, trust company, licensed broker, dealer, broker-dealer, investment advisor, investment manager, or adviser in the United States or elsewhere. iTrustCapital is not affiliated with and does not endorse any particular digital asset, precious metal or investment strategy.
