Morgan Stanley's E*TRADE Launches Spot Crypto Trading

Morgan Stanley has launched spot cryptocurrency trading on its E*TRADE platform, allowing eligible customers to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through a partnership with digital asset infrastructure provider Zero Hash.

In a post on Thursday, Morgan Stanley said the new offering lets investors view their cryptocurrency holdings alongside stocks and other investments in E*TRADE. Digital assets are held in linked Zero Hash accounts rather than by Morgan Stanley. The company said trades will carry a 50-basis-point fee, while crypto transfer functionality is expected later this year.

“Our clients’ needs are evolving, and they want to invest, trade, bank, and plan for the future all in one place,” Matt Jones, Head of E*TRADE, said in a statement. “Whether they’re buying their first share, exploring crypto, participating in an IPO, or planning for retirement, our job is to meet them where they are – with the confidence and trust that comes from being part of Morgan Stanley.”

The rollout coincides with a broader platform update that includes retirement planning tools, fractional share trading, an updated IPO Center, and new features for active traders.

"With the rollout of crypto trading on E*TRADE we're advancing our digital assets strategy and bringing new capabilities to clients in an integrated way," Chad Turner, head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Platforms, said in a statement.

The launch follows several crypto-related initiatives by Morgan Stanley this year.

In January, the firm filed registration statements with the SEC for spot Bitcoin and Solana exchange-traded funds, marking its move toward offering branded crypto investment products. In April, Morgan Stanley said it was exploring tokenization, tokenized money market funds, and tax-management tools for digital assets. Later that month, the bank introduced a money market fund designed for stablecoin issuers to manage reserves under the GENIUS Act.