On July 16, 2026, E*TRADE, a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, announced the launch of its spot trading services for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. This initiative allows nearly 9 million eligible clients to trade these cryptocurrencies directly through a collaboration with Zero Hash, a digital asset infrastructure provider.

The platform charges a fee of 50 basis points per trade, allowing customers to manage their crypto investments alongside traditional assets. However, the functionality to transfer cryptocurrencies in and out of E*TRADE accounts is expected to be available later this year.

In terms of asset custody, it is important to note that Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not handle transactions or custody of digital assets directly. All cryptocurrency transactions and custody happen in a separate account held in the client’s name at Zero Hash, which is not covered by FDIC insurance or SIPC protection as traditional brokerage assets are.

Chad Turner, Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Platforms, emphasized that this launch supports the firm’s digital assets strategy and enhances the capabilities available to clients. Matt Jones, Head of E*TRADE, highlighted the importance of this offering in meeting the evolving needs of investors who seek to manage banking, trading, and investment planning in one place.

A survey conducted in April 2026 by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management found that 32% of investors prioritize trust in an established firm when selecting a cryptocurrency trading platform. The survey also indicated that 26% favored the ability to view cryptocurrencies alongside traditional holdings, while 25% cited low fees as a key consideration.

This launch follows a year of development, with Morgan Stanley first announcing plans to integrate Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana trading into E*TRADE in September 2025. The firm also filed registration statements for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs with the SEC in January 2026, and expressed interest in exploring tokenization and tokenized money market funds in April.

This material is informational and not financial advice.