Morgan Stanley: Acquires digital equity transfer agency platform Vinyl Equity to advance asset tokenization strategy

According to official news, Morgan Stanley has reached an agreement to acquire Vinyl Equity. Vinyl Equity is a digital equity transfer agency and shareholder record management platform registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This acquisition will add equity transfer agency services to Morgan Stanley's Morgan Stanley at Work, integrating equity structure management, equity incentive management, share transfer, and wealth management services, providing integrated services for enterprises and shareholders covering both private and public markets. Morgan Stanley stated that this acquisition will also strengthen its digital asset ecosystem, providing critical infrastructure for future asset tokenization plans. Vinyl's digital technology is expected to drive upgrades in the recording, transfer, and management of equity ownership, aligning with the development of blockchain technology, atomic settlement, and asset tokenization. The transaction is still subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.