Morgan Stanley Launches Crypto ETFs, Awaiting Regulatory Approval
US investment bank Morgan Stanley has filed applications with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch two cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a foray deeper into digital assets.
The proposed funds will invest in Bitcoin and Solana, allowing millions of the bank’s wealth management clients to access regulated crypto products.
The filings refer to the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust and Morgan Stanley Solana Trust as strategic investment vehicles. These ETFs are designed to track the performance of the underlying tokens without the scope to generate additional returns.
Ways ETFs Can Benefit Investors
If approved, these ETFs could provide Morgan Stanley’s more than 19 million clients (as of April 2025) served through its wealth management unit with regulated crypto exposure.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs have already seen strong demand. Analysts attribute the “clean-slate effect” at the start of 2026 to $1.1 billion in inflows during the first two trading days.
Security has been a key consideration in structuring the funds. A large quantity of private keys will be stored in cold wallets, with a smaller portion in hot wallets. CSC Delaware Trust Company will act as trustee. The ETFs are expected to list publicly through 19b-4 filings or similar once regulatory processes are completed.
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Morgan Stanley Broadens Crypto Access Beyond Ultra-Rich Clients
Previously, Morgan Stanley restricted crypto investments to clients with net worth exceeding $1.5 million. In October 2025, the bank lifted those restrictions, enabling financial advisors to recommend crypto funds in retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s.
This move allows Morgan Stanley clients to access Bitcoin and Solana for the first time through a regulated ETF, reflecting the bank’s recognition of institutional demand for digital asset exposure.
An Increasingly Popular Choice on Wall Street
The Morgan Stanley filing comes amid a surge in institutional activity in regulated crypto products.
- Bank of America recently enabled wealth advisers across Merrill, Bank of America Private Bank, and Merrill Edge platforms to recommend four Bitcoin ETFs.
- Vanguard began allowing trading of a crypto ETF for clients in December 2025.
- The first major asset manager to allocate up to 2% of client portfolios to Bitcoin was BlackRock in December 2024.
All of these initiatives signal that Wall Street is embracing the mainstreaming of digital assets, making it easier for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
