Morgan Stanley Seeks Regulatory Nod for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs

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Morgan Stanley has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch exchange-traded funds tied to cryptocurrency prices. The filings, submitted Tuesday, mark the first such initiative by a major US bank.

The proposed funds aim to track the prices of Bitcoin and Solana, representing a strategic effort by the bank to expand its footprint within the digital asset ecosystem. This step signals a significant embrace of cryptocurrencies by a leading Wall Street institution.

The filings arrive amid a shifting regulatory landscape. Under the administration of US President Donald Trump, increased regulatory clarity has encouraged mainstream financial firms to engage with digital assets. Further enabling this move, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ruled in December that banks could serve as intermediaries for crypto transactions.

Analysts note that ETFs offer investors a preferred avenue for crypto exposure, providing benefits like enhanced liquidity, custodial security, and simpler regulatory compliance compared to direct ownership of the tokens. This structure is particularly appealing to institutional and retail clients alike.