Morgan Stanley, a Wall Street bank managing nearly $9 trillion in assets, plans to offer clients Bitcoin (BTC) custody, trading, lending, and yield-generation services.
The firm is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States. In addition, the client base spans retail investors, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional players.
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Why it matters:
- Morgan Stanley’s entry into BTC services would give clients direct access to Bitcoin through a regulated, trusted institution.
- Furthermore, adding yield and lending products expands BTC’s utility beyond simple custody, attracting clients seeking returns on digital asset holdings.
- Wall Street adoption at this scale signals Bitcoin’s shift from speculation to structural integration in global finance.
The details:
- Amy Oldenburg, Morgan Stanley’s Head of Digital Asset Strategy, confirmed that the bank plans to build a native custody and exchange solution.
- Speaking with Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) CEO Phong Le, she added that Bitcoin-based yield and lending services are part of the bank’s ongoing discussion and exploration.
- The bank had previously hired for crypto-focused roles tied to Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and tokenization infrastructure. This signaled an expansion of its digital assets strategy.
- In January 2026, the bank filed for spot Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with the SEC.
The big picture:
- In addition, River data shows Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley each recommend clients allocate 1–5% of portfolios to BTC.
- Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley’s move follows a broader trend of major banks expanding crypto service offerings to institutional and retail clients.
