Overview
- Morgan Stanley’s new bitcoin exchange-traded product, MSBT, drew more than $100 million in its first six days, all from self-directed investors before advisors could offer it.
- The bank recommends a 2% to 4% bitcoin allocation for clients, yet slow advisor uptake has led it to launch internal training to close the knowledge gap.
- Digital asset chief Amy Oldenburg said banks may eventually hold bitcoin on their own balance sheets, but Federal Reserve guidance, Basel capital rules, and approvals from multiple regulators still block that move.
- To build in-house capabilities, Morgan Stanley is seeking an OCC digital trust charter to allow direct crypto custody and spot trading, while MSBT’s bitcoin is now held by Coinbase and BNY Mellon.
- Market appetite for regulated bitcoin exposure remains strong, with BlackRock’s IBIT surpassing $61 billion in assets and setting a scale benchmark for new funds.