TLDR
- Morgan Stanley will launch cryptocurrency trading on its E-Trade platform in the first half of 2026 through a partnership with Zerohash
- E-Trade clients will be able to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana directly when the service goes live
- The move follows improved regulatory conditions under the Trump administration’s favorable stance on digital assets
- Morgan Stanley plans to eventually integrate crypto into its wealth management business, which generates nearly half of its annual revenue
- The bank previously offered Bitcoin funds to wealthy clients but will now provide direct cryptocurrency ownership
Morgan Stanley plans to introduce cryptocurrency trading on its E-Trade platform in the first half of 2026. The Wall Street investment bank will partner with digital asset infrastructure provider Zerohash to offer the service.
E-Trade clients will be able to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana when the platform launches. A Morgan Stanley spokesperson confirmed these details on Tuesday.
The bank outlined its plans in a memo to staff. The memo stated that Morgan Stanley is “well underway in preparing to offer crypto trading through a partner model to E-Trade clients.”
Morgan Stanley cited improved government stance toward digital assets as a key factor. The bank specifically mentioned the re-election of President Donald Trump as contributing to this favorable regulatory environment.
The cryptocurrency market has grown to approximately $3.9 trillion in total value. Bitcoin represents about $2.25 trillion of this amount, while Ethereum accounts for around $506 billion according to CoinMarketCap data.
Expanding Beyond Traditional Services
Morgan Stanley’s move follows similar initiatives by other Wall Street competitors. The bank aims to capitalize on the growing acceptance of digital assets among institutional investors.
The partnership with Zerohash will handle liquidity, custody, and settlement for crypto trading operations. This arrangement allows Morgan Stanley to offer crypto services without building the infrastructure in-house.
Previously, Morgan Stanley offered Bitcoin funds to its wealthy clients through third-party managers. The new direct trading model will eliminate management fees but comes with increased risks for clients.
Wealth Management Integration
Morgan Stanley plans to eventually integrate cryptocurrency offerings into its wealth management business. Wealth management generates nearly half of the bank’s annual revenue.
This makes Morgan Stanley more dependent on high net worth clients compared to other major Wall Street banks. The crypto expansion could help attract younger, tech-savvy investors to the platform.
The bank’s wealth management focus positions it differently from competitors who rely more heavily on trading and investment banking revenue. Adding crypto trading could provide new revenue streams from existing clients.
E-Trade serves as Morgan Stanley’s retail trading platform. The platform competes with other discount brokerages for individual investor accounts.
The crypto trading launch represents a major expansion of E-Trade’s service offerings. Current E-Trade users will gain access to digital asset trading without needing separate accounts.
Morgan Stanley expects to begin offering the service in the first half of 2026. The exact launch date has not been specified.
The bank will initially focus on the three major cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Additional digital assets may be added later based on client demand and regulatory approval.
Morgan Stanley stock carries a consensus Moderate Buy rating from 13 Wall Street analysts. The rating includes six Buy and seven Hold recommendations issued in the last three months, with an average price target of $149.91.
