Simply put
- Morgan Stanley is set to launch crypto trading on its E*Trade platform early next year.
- The bank is collaborating with Zerohash, a Crypto and Stablecoin Infrastructure provider.
- Initially, investors will be able to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Morgan Stanley, in partnership with Zerohash, is working to allow customers on its E*Trade Online Brokerage platform to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The news was reported by Decryption on Tuesday.
Based in New York, Morgan Stanley aims to offer wallet services, with an eye on potentially integrating other digital assets in the future. Bloomberg first highlighted the upcoming crypto trading service, anticipated to roll out in the first half of 2026.
Jed Finn, Morgan Stanley’s head of wealth management, asserted, “The underlying technology is proven, and the blockchain-based infrastructure is clearly here to stay.” He emphasized the need for clients to access digital assets, traditional assets, and cryptocurrencies all within a familiar ecosystem.
Morgan Stanley has been among many traditional financial firms enhancing their crypto offerings lately. Earlier this year, CEO Ted Pick mentioned the necessity for banks to collaborate with regulators to ensure safe crypto services.
Last year, the firm promoted its growing Bitcoin ETF to its affluent clients, thereby facilitating access to Bitcoin investment options.
In the second quarter of this year, Robinhood, an online trading platform, reported generating $160 million in crypto trading revenue, marking a 98% increase from the previous year, despite challenges posed by the trade war.
Previously, the former CEO of Charles Schwab, Rick Wurster, indicated that the company aimed to enter the spot crypto market once the regulatory landscape became clearer. Currently, Schwab offers cryptocurrency exposure through ETFs and mutual funds.
In a joint comment, Zerohash CEO Edward Woodford remarked that the partnership underscores the importance of infrastructure in digital finance.
Woodford also stated that this collaboration marks a significant stride towards mainstream adoption of digital asset technology, expressing pride in enabling institutions and their clients globally.
Zerohash CFO Adam Berg commented that financial institutes are eager to leverage this technology at scale, aiming to provide broader access to crypto asset classes. He noted discussing innovations on the blockchain with numerous financial executives from large banks.
On another note, Morgan Stanley participated in a $104 million Series D funding round for Hashdex, which has secured a total of $275 million across multiple funding rounds. This latest round was led by Interactive Brokers, accompanied by support from Morgan Stanley, Sofi, and Jump Crypto.
