By Reuters | Updated: January 6, 2026
Jan 6 (Reuters) – Morgan Stanley (MS.N) is seeking regulatory approval to launch exchange-traded funds tied to the price of cryptocurrency tokens, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday.
The bank is looking to launch ETFs tied to the price of cryptocurrencies bitcoin and solana, according to the filings.
The move will deepen the bank’s presence in the cryptocurrency space and comes two years after the SEC approved the first U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETF.
Regulatory clarity under U.S. President Donald Trump has encouraged mainstream finance companies to embrace digital assets, which were once considered merely speculative instruments.
In December, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency also allowed banks to act as intermediaries on crypto transactions, narrowing the gap between the traditional sector and digital assets.
Several investors prefer holding crypto via ETFs, which provide greater liquidity and security, and simplified regulatory compliance compared to managing the underlying asset directly.
Asset management firm T. Rowe Price (TROW.O) had also filed for its first crypto ETF last year, as institutional firms increasingly embrace digital assets.
Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil and Ateev Bhandari in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri
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© Thomson Reuters 2026
