Morgan Stanley Introduces an Ethereum Trust to Its Crypto ETF Portfolio
Morgan Stanley, one of Wall Street’s largest financial institutions, is gearing up to expand its cryptocurrency product lineup by filing for an Ethereum Trust. This move comes on the heels of its recent applications for Bitcoin and Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs), showcasing the bank’s ongoing commitment to the evolving digital asset space.
What is the Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust?
The newly proposed Ethereum Trust is designed to serve as a passive investment vehicle for tracking the price of Ethereum (ETH). According to the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the trust will also feature a staking program that generates network rewards, which will be distributed to shareholders. The trust will maintain liquidity for redemptions while providing exposure to one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies on the market.
To ensure transparency, the shares in the trust will be valued daily using a pricing benchmark derived from major trading venues. The introduction of such innovative programs like staking highlights the institution’s efforts to align with the latest trends in blockchain technology.
Why Now? The Crypto-Friendly Regulatory Environment
This filing comes at a time when U.S. regulators are showing a more accommodating stance toward cryptocurrency markets under the current administration. This shift has allowed traditional financial institutions, such as Morgan Stanley, to broaden their crypto offerings and integrate these assets into mainstream financial products.
Speaking in a January 2025 interview, Morgan Stanley’s CEO, Ted Pick, emphasized the bank’s approach to crypto as dependent on regulatory clarity. With this latest move, the firm is clearly signaling its confidence in digital assets as part of the future of finance.
Morgan Stanley’s Growing Interest in Cryptocurrency
In October 2025, Morgan Stanley expanded crypto access to all its clients, including those with retirement accounts. Previously, exposure to digital assets was only available to high-net-worth individuals. The bank has also partnered with Zerohash to facilitate Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana trading on its E*Trade platform.
Spotlight on Ethereum
Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, has seen a meteoric rise in adoption due to its capability of supporting smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). As of today, ETH is trading at approximately $3,211, slightly down by 0.7%, according to data from leading platform CoinGecko.
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What’s Next for Crypto ETFs?
Morgan Stanley’s Ethereum Trust marks another significant milestone in its journey to bridge traditional financial services with the world of cryptocurrencies. With regulatory bodies gradually warming up to digital assets, the landscape for cryptocurrency ETFs looks increasingly promising.
