Morgan Stanley’s Latest Step Into Crypto: Files For Bitcoin And Solana ETFs

On Tuesday, Morgan Stanley, one of Wall Street’s premier banking institutions, announced that it has submitted preliminary filings for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on Bitcoin (BTC) and Solana (SOL). 

These filings are now awaiting approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has recently adopted a more favorable stance toward cryptocurrencies under Chair Paul Atkins, appointed by President Trump last year.

Morgan Stanley’s Latest Filings

In the submitted filing, Morgan Stanley outlined its plans for a Bitcoin Trust and a Solana Trust, each designed to hold the respective cryptocurrencies. 

Notably, the Solana product will include an allocation for staking, a process that enables holders to earn rewards by allowing their tokens to be used to support the blockchain network. These trusts will be sponsored by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., according to the filings.

This latest move by Morgan Stanley follows its decision in October 2025 to empower its financial advisers to offer crypto investments to clients across various account types. 

In a paper published by the bank’s Global Investment Committee, a recommendation emerged suggesting that clients consider a maximum crypto allocation of 4%. 

The committee characterized cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, as a speculative yet increasingly popular asset class, likening Bitcoin to a scarce resource akin to “digital gold.”

Growing Institutional Interest

The launch of the Bitcoin and Solana exchange-traded funds is a significant move toward expanding Morgan Stanley’s presence in the cryptocurrency industry, which is widely regarded by traditional financial institutions as a financial sector with tremendous growth potential. 

This development comes two years after the Securities and Exchange Commission approval of the first US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange traded fund, propelling institutional interest in digital assets.

The backdrop of growing regulatory clarity under US President Donald Trump has further encouraged traditional finance companies to diversify into digital assets, which were previously viewed primarily as speculative investments. 

The recent appointment of Paul Atkins, a pro-crypto advocate, as head of the SEC, alongside the agency’s recent regulatory moves towards digital assets, suggests that the approval process for these new crypto ETFs could be favourable and timely.

Additionally, in December, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted banks the ability to act as intermediaries for cryptocurrency transactions. This regulatory shift suggests a narrowing divide between the conventional financial sector and the burgeoning world of digital assets.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin has managed to hold onto the gains seen on Monday, when it briefly surged towards a two-month high of $94,800. Currently, the market’s leading cryptocurrency is attempting to consolidate at $93,920. 

Similarly, Solana has climbed back above $142, marking a significant 14% increase over the past seven days. However, this still leaves the altcoin 51% below its all-time high of $293 reached last year. 

Featured image from Reuters, chart from TradingView.com