Morgan Stanley has added direct spot crypto trading to its retail brokerage, rolling out Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana on E*TRADE through a partnership with infrastructure provider Zero Hash.
What’s new
- Eligible E*TRADE customers can now buy, sell and hold BTC, ETH and SOL inside the platform and view those digital-asset balances alongside stocks and other investments.
- Cryptocurrencies are custodyed in linked Zero Hash accounts — not on Morgan Stanley’s balance sheet.
- Trades will carry a 50 basis-point fee (0.5%). Crypto withdrawal/transfer functionality is expected later this year.
Why it matters
This launch makes Morgan Stanley one of the major traditional brokerages to offer integrated spot crypto trading directly on a mass-market platform. By placing custody with Zero Hash, the bank keeps crypto assets off its books while giving clients an on-ramp to trade and monitor positions within the familiar E*TRADE interface.
Company comments and broader platform upgrades
Matt Jones, Head of E*TRADE, framed the move as meeting evolving client needs: “Whether they’re buying their first share, exploring crypto, participating in an IPO, or planning for retirement, our job is to meet them where they are — with the confidence and trust that comes from being part of Morgan Stanley.” Chad Turner, head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Platforms, added that crypto trading “advances our digital assets strategy and brings new capabilities to clients in an integrated way.”
The rollout arrives alongside a broader E*TRADE update that includes retirement planning tools, fractional-share trading, an updated IPO Center and new features for active traders.
Where this fits into Morgan Stanley’s crypto push
The new trading capability follows several crypto initiatives from the bank this year:
- January: Morgan Stanley filed SEC registration statements for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, signaling interest in branded crypto investment products.
- April: The firm said it was exploring tokenization, tokenized money market funds and tax-management tools for digital assets.
- Later in April: It launched a money market fund designed for stablecoin issuers to manage reserves under the GENIUS Act.
Morgan Stanley first disclosed plans to bring crypto trading to E*TRADE in September 2025, and today’s rollout completes that initial plan by adding direct spot trading for BTC, ETH and SOL via Zero Hash as the bank expands its digital-asset offerings.
Bottom line
For retail clients who qualify, E*TRADE now provides an integrated way to trade and monitor three major crypto assets within a traditional brokerage environment — with custody handled by Zero Hash and trading fees set at 0.5%. Expect transfer features and potentially broader asset support as Morgan Stanley continues developing its digital-assets roadmap.
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