Morgan Stanley applies for Bitcoin and Solana spot ETFs, further deepening institutional participation in crypto assets

Morgan Stanley has submitted registration documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust and the Morgan Stanley Solana Trust, indicating its further expansion in the cryptocurrency ETF space.

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart stated that this move exceeds previous expectations and reflects a shift in the attitudes of large financial institutions towards cryptocurrency assets. Public information shows that Morgan Stanley currently manages about 20 ETFs, but the number of products named after the company itself is limited, making this direct application for cryptocurrency ETFs under the Morgan Stanley brand relatively rare.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan pointed out that institutions are viewing cryptocurrency assets as one of their important business directions. Previously, Morgan Stanley had allowed its financial advisors to allocate cryptocurrency ETFs for clients within a certain percentage range.

Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas believes that this initiative may help advance its internal ETF distribution strategy and could set a precedent for other asset management firms.