Morgan Stanley has launched spot cryptocurrency trading on its E*TRADE platform, allowing eligible clients to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The service, powered by Zero Hash, charges a 0.5% fee per trade and marks one of the deepest integrations of crypto trading into a traditional brokerage platform.
The launch makes E*TRADE one of the largest US brokerages to offer direct cryptocurrency trading, competing with rivals like Robinhood and Charles Schwab. Morgan Stanley had previously offered crypto exposure through Grayscale and Bitcoin futures products, but this marks its entry into direct spot crypto trading for retail clients.
The move signals growing mainstream acceptance of digital assets by traditional financial institutions. Bank of America recently appointed new leadership for its digital assets platform, JPMorgan has been expanding its blockchain offerings, and Goldman Sachs has restarted its crypto trading desk. The trend reflects increasing demand from both retail and institutional clients for direct crypto access within their existing brokerage relationships.
Zero Hash, the infrastructure provider, offers a regulated settlement layer that handles custody and execution across multiple exchanges. As reported by Decrypt and Unchained, the service is initially available to select E*TRADE clients with plans for broader rollout.
