US investment bank Morgan Stanley has asked the SEC to approve its own spot Bitcoin ETF. This is a significant shift in the approach of large banks to cryptocurrencies and another sign of growing confidence in regulated investment products linked to Bitcoin.
Morgan Stanley is targeting the booming Bitcoin ETF market and changing its strategy
Morgan Stanley is entering the rapidly growing Bitcoin ETF market, which has expanded significantly since the first spot funds were approved in the US in early 2024. Asset managers such as BlackRock and Fidelity already manage assets exceeding $120 billion, confirming strong demand from both institutional and retail investors.
The filing marks a change in the bank’s strategy, shifting from distributing third-party crypto products to issuing its own fund. Until now, US banks have focused mainly on custody and brokerage due to regulatory uncertainty, but the situation has changed following clarification of the rules by federal authorities.
Morgan Stanley launches its own Bitcoin ETF and strengthens Bitcoin’s position in traditional finance
The proposed Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust fund will directly hold actual Bitcoin, not derivatives or futures contracts. The net asset value will be calculated daily based on prices from key cryptocurrency exchanges, and investors will be able to trade the fund’s shares through regular brokerage accounts.
By creating its own ETF, Morgan Stanley wants to offer clients a fully integrated product while retaining management fees that would otherwise go to competitors. The bank’s intention confirms the broader trend of gradually integrating bitcoin into the traditional financial system, where it remains the main target of institutional capital.
