Morgan Stanley Files for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, Expands Retail Crypto Trading

Source: DefiPlanet Original Title: Morgan Stanley Files for Bitcoin, Solana ETFs, Accelerates Retail Crypto Access Original Link:

Quick Breakdown

  • Morgan Stanley submits S-1 filings for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, targeting direct crypto exposure.
  • Partners with ZeroHash to launch retail trading of BTC, ETH, and SOL on E-Trade by mid-2026.
  • Plans wallet infrastructure and tokenized assets signal full Wall Street embrace of digital assets.

Filing and Platform Launch

Wall Street powerhouse Morgan Stanley files S-1 applications with the SEC for spot Bitcoin and Solana exchange-traded funds on January 6, 2026. The move offers clients direct exposure to BTC and SOL prices, building on 2024 ETF approvals. Partnering with ZeroHash, the bank rolls out retail crypto trading on its E-Trade platform by mid-2026, starting with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.

ETFs and Trading Lead Aggressive Crypto Pivot

Morgan Stanley’s ETF filings mark a shift from wealth management pilots to broad retail access. The Bitcoin Trust targets high-net-worth investors first, while Solana ETF taps the chain’s RWA tokenization surge. E-Trade users gain trading, storage, and management via new wallet infrastructure. Tokenized equities, bonds, and real estate follow, mirroring similar settlement innovations in the industry.

CEO Ted Pick eyes public blockchains like Ethereum and Solana for efficiency. Stablecoin payments integrate next, slashing cross-border costs by 80%. This approach favors USDC interoperability over private blockchain solutions. With $1.7 trillion in assets, Morgan Stanley captures crypto’s $4 trillion market cap growth.

Regulatory Environment Drives Institutional Adoption

Morgan Stanley’s filing for exchange-traded funds based on Bitcoin and Solana represents a decisive institutional move into the digital asset space. This pivot is mirrored by major institutions like PwC, which is expanding its crypto services, citing positive regulatory changes in the U.S., such as the GENIUS Act. This widespread adoption, spanning both finance and auditing, firmly establishes digital assets on a path toward mainstream acceptance.

However, the market still exhibits volatility. Despite significant institutional filings and demonstrated blockchain resilience, market conditions remain complex, underscoring the coexistence of significant opportunity and inherent risk in the sector.

BTC-1.25%
ETH-2.35%
SOL-1.66%
USDC0.03%
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