Morgan Stanley Plans Ethereum Trust as Wall Street Deepens Crypto Push

Morgan Stanley is taking another step into digital assets after submitting a filing to U.S. regulators for an Ethereum-focused investment trust, reinforcing its growing commitment to crypto markets at the start of 2026.

The bank’s proposed Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust is designed as an exchange-traded vehicle that would mirror the price of ether while also passing along staking rewards to investors. The registration was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, following earlier moves by the firm tied to Bitcoin- and Solana-linked products.

The filing arrives amid a more receptive regulatory climate in the United States, with federal agencies under President Donald Trump signaling a softer stance toward crypto-based investment vehicles. That shift has encouraged major financial institutions to broaden their digital asset offerings beyond Bitcoin.

Morgan Stanley’s crypto strategy has been steadily widening. In October, the firm opened access to crypto funds for its full client base, including retirement accounts, moving beyond its earlier focus on wealthy investors. Months earlier, it confirmed a partnership with Zerohash that enabled trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through its E*Trade platform.

According to the Form S-1, the Ethereum Trust would be sponsored by Morgan Stanley Investment Management and would hold ETH directly. Shares would be valued daily using a benchmark based on prices from multiple major trading venues. The trust also plans to stake a portion of its ether and distribute staking rewards to shareholders at least once per quarter, subject to tax guidance.

At the time of filing, ether was trading near $3,211, slightly lower on the day, as traditional finance firms continue positioning for deeper involvement in crypto markets.