Morgan Stanley Files for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, Strengthening Crypto Strategy
Morgan Stanley has submitted filings with the SEC to launch a spot bitcoin (BTC $91,796) ETF and a Solana trust, signaling a deeper commitment to digital assets.
The proposed Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, disclosed in a Jan. 6 Form S-1, will be a passive ETF tracking bitcoin’s price, net of fees and expenses. Shares are expected to list on a national exchange under a ticker to be announced. The fund will hold bitcoin directly, without leverage or derivatives, with net asset value calculated daily using a benchmark from major spot exchanges. Authorized participants can create or redeem shares in large blocks, while retail investors can trade on the secondary market through brokerages.
The filings come amid rapid growth in U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs, which now hold $123 billion in assets, or roughly 6.57% of bitcoin’s market capitalization, according to SoSoValue. Net inflows into these ETFs have exceeded $1.1 billion so far in 2026. The Morgan Stanley Solana Trust will track SOL, joining a category with more than $1 billion in total assets and nearly $800 million in cumulative inflows.
Deeper Crypto Push
The move reflects Morgan Stanley’s shift from distributing third-party crypto products to launching its own ETFs, highlighting a stronger commitment to digital assets. With a large wealth management network, the bank can integrate these ETFs directly into client portfolios, keeping management fees in-house — a strategy already proven profitable by competitors like BlackRock.
