Morgan Stanley E*Trade has launched a pilot program enabling its brokerage clients to trade cryptocurrencies directly from their accounts. The service, launching later this year for its 8.6 million customers, will initially support Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana. The firm is charging a 0.50% transaction fee and will leverage Zerohash for liquidity, custody, and settlement. This move integrates digital assets into the traditional brokerage dashboard.
Morgan Stanley E*Trade has begun rolling out cryptocurrency trading with a fee of 0.50% per transaction. Bloomberg reported the service is a pilot program that will roll out later this year.
The bank stated customers want crypto access in the same place where they manage traditional investments. The integration will bring Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana directly into the E*Trade dashboard through a partnership with Zerohash.
Morgan Stanley E*Trade will not operate as a separate crypto application. Its goal is to display digital assets within the same dashboard customers use for stocks and ETFs.
The bank has called this rollout phase one. It opens the possibility for additional tokens or tokenized assets to be introduced in the future.
The strategy focuses on pricing to compete with dedicated cryptocurrency exchanges. At 50 basis points, the fee compares favorably with key U.S. competitors.
The transition enables the bank to retain clients’ activity on its own platform. Customers seeking crypto exposure no longer need to transfer funds to third-party applications.
The move is significant for Morgan Stanley’s wealth management business. Keeping assets inside E*Trade can support client retention and platform engagement.
Morgan Stanley is among the first major U.S. banks to provide advisor clients with Bitcoin-related products and ETFs. The direct trading offering signals crypto’s integration into traditional brokerage services.
