Morgan Stanley to Launch Crypto Trading on E*Trade, Intensifying Competition for Crypto Exchanges
Morgan Stanley (MS) is planning to introduce cryptocurrency trading on its E*Trade platform, signaling a major shift for one of the largest U.S. banks as it prepares to provide retail users direct access to digital assets.
While still in the early stages, the initiative could be launched as soon as next year. According to Bloomberg, the bank is exploring potential partnerships with crypto-native companies to build out the necessary infrastructure for spot trading.
This move would significantly expand Morgan Stanley’s crypto offerings, which already include exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and futures tailored to its high-net-worth clientele. The timing of the push is linked to regulatory changes in the U.S. that followed Donald Trump’s return to the White House, which has led to rollbacks in crypto regulations, creating a more favorable environment for such moves.
Should Morgan Stanley proceed with offering crypto trading through E*Trade, it could increase competition for established crypto exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken, which have dominated the retail space.
Other major financial institutions are also showing increased interest in the sector. Charles Schwab has expressed plans to add spot trading, while SoFi is considering a significant expansion into the cryptocurrency market after witnessing a “fundamental shift” in the U.S. landscape.

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