Banking giant Morgan Stanley reportedly plans to list cryptocurrencies on its E*Trade investment brokerage and trading platform.
According to a May 1 Bloomberg report, the firm intends to list crypto assets on E*Trade in 2026. The plan is still in early development, and the bank is said to be exploring partnerships with established crypto firms to power the service. Internal discussions about cryptocurrency support reportedly began in late 2024.
This would not be Morgan Stanley’s first exposure to digital assets. The bank’s wealthiest clients have had access to crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and futures for some time, with the firm’s advisers allowed to pitch Bitcoin ETFs since August 2024.
Related: Morgan Stanley to explore crypto offerings for clients — CEO
Regulatory tailwinds push crypto forward
The news follows previous reports that Morgan Stanley was considering adding cryptocurrency trading to its E*Trade online brokerage platform in early January. The reports at the time cited the expectations of a friendlier crypto regulatory environment.
The move comes amid an increasingly favorable regulatory environment in the United States following the election of President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a pro-crypto platform and is personally involved in several blockchain ventures.
Morgan Stanley did not respond to Cointelegraph’s inquiry by publication.
Related: Morgan Stanley discloses $188M in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF holdings
The first 30 days of the Trump administration brought significant changes to the local crypto industry. More recently, US crypto proponents have shown optimism following the swearing-in of pro-crypto Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins.
The SEC had significantly changed its stance even before Atkins took office. In late February, the agency had already paused multiple cryptocurrency enforcement cases with imminent deadlines.
Trump’s own involvement with the crypto industry, paired with his pro-crypto stance, has raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren recently called on government officials to address questions related to Trump’s memecoin and his media company.
Senator Jon Ossoff recently expressed support for impeaching Trump over his meeting of the top holders of his Trump Official (TRUMP) memecoin. He said that “he is granting audiences to people who buy his memecoin,” adding:
“When the sitting president of the United States is selling access for what are effectively payments directly to him. There is no question that that rises to the level of an impeachable offense.”
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