Morgan Stanley prepares to launch its first proprietary cryptocurrency ETFs

Morgan Stanley has requested permission from US regulators to launch exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the price of cryptocurrency tokens, according to documents filed by the bank with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Reuters was the first to draw attention to this.

According to documents, the bank plans to launch ETFs linked to the price of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Solana. This move, Reuters notes, will strengthen Morgan Stanley's position in the cryptocurrency space.

The SEC approved the first spot Bitcoin ETF registered in the US two years ago, the agency recalls. The first American futures ETF linked to the price of Bitcoin became the fastest-growing exchange-traded fund in October 2021, Bloomberg wrote, with assets under management exceeding $1 billion in just two days.

Greater clarity in cryptocurrency regulation under US President Donald Trump has prompted major American financial companies to explore digital assets that were previously considered speculative instruments, Reuters notes. Last year, asset management company T. Rowe Price also filed an application to create its first cryptocurrency ETF.

Last December, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), an independent bureau of the US Department of the Treasury, also allowed banks to act as intermediaries in cryptocurrency transactions, further narrowing the gap between the traditional financial sector and digital assets.

Many investors, Reuters notes, prefer to hold cryptocurrency in ETFs, which offer greater liquidity and security, as well as simplifying regulatory compliance compared to direct asset management.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor