Morgan Stanley Plans to Launch Crypto Trading on E*Trade, Pushing Further into the Retail Market
Morgan Stanley (MS) is preparing to introduce cryptocurrency trading on its E*Trade platform, marking a significant step in the bank’s push to provide retail investors with direct access to cryptocurrencies. This development could intensify competition with crypto-native exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken.
Although the initiative is still in the early stages, it is expected to launch sometime next year. According to Bloomberg, the bank is exploring partnerships with crypto-focused firms to help build the infrastructure necessary for spot trading.
Currently, Morgan Stanley’s crypto offerings are geared towards its wealthier clients, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and futures contracts. The potential expansion into retail crypto trading follows a shift in the regulatory landscape after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, which has led to a series of rollbacks on crypto regulations.
The move could pose a challenge to existing crypto exchanges and may also prompt other financial institutions to ramp up their own cryptocurrency initiatives. Charles Schwab has shown interest in adding spot trading, while SoFi is considering a major foray into the crypto market following a “fundamental shift” in the U.S. crypto environment.
