Morgan Stanley to Launch Bitcoin Trading on E*Trade in H1 2026
Morgan Stanley will launch Bitcoin trading on its E*Trade platform in the first half of 2026, partnering with fintech unicorn Zerohash to provide custody, liquidity and settlement services. E*Trade’s 5 million retail clients will gain access to Bitcoin trading, as well as Ethereum and Solana. Zerohash, backed by Morgan Stanley and led by an Interactive Brokers–led $104 million funding round that valued it at $1 billion, will power the infrastructure. Morgan Stanley is also developing a digital asset wallet and exploring blockchain applications such as tokenization and distributed ledger technology. Wealth advisors can already recommend spot Bitcoin ETFs, and the bank is evaluating stablecoin custody. This Bitcoin trading debut intensifies competition with Robinhood and Charles Schwab, marking a significant push into the $4 trillion digital assets market to meet rising retail demand and broaden its wealth management services.
Bullish
The introduction of Bitcoin trading through Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade platform will likely have a bullish impact on Bitcoin’s price both in the short and long term. By granting 5 million retail clients direct access to Bitcoin trading and integrating robust custody, liquidity and settlement services via Zerohash, Morgan Stanley is lowering barriers to entry and expanding market participation. In the short term, this increased demand from new retail investors could drive price appreciation. Over the long term, the development of a digital asset wallet, exploration of blockchain applications and stablecoin custody signal sustained institutional support and infrastructure growth, strengthening market confidence and the overall ecosystem.