Morgan Stanley Eyes U.S. Bank Charter to Turbocharge Institutional Crypto Custody

Morgan Stanley Takes a Giant Leap into Crypto with National Trust Bank Application

Morgan Stanley is making a bold leap into crypto, applying for a National Trust Bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), marking Wall Street’s full-scale entry into institutional digital assets.

Morgan Stanley is set to offer regulated crypto custody, a critical infrastructure for institutional investors. By securing a National Trust Bank charter, the firm addresses key hurdles, fragmented exchanges, counterparty risk, and regulatory uncertainty, providing a federally supervised framework for managing digital assets. 

As part of its broader digital strategy, Morgan Stanley will also launch a native Bitcoin custody and trading platform, expected within the next year, according to Amy Oldenburg, head of digital asset strategy.

Morgan Stanley now joins leaders like Ripple in the vision of offering regulated crypto custody and banking, signaling that institutional crypto has moved from experimentation to mainstream reality.

Morgan Stanley Ushers in the Era of Institutional-Grade Crypto Services

Morgan Stanley-backed banking oversight signals crypto’s shift from fringe to mainstream, offering institutional investors U.S. federal protection. Nevertheless, market volatility remains stark because the crypto market lost $75B in an hour amid U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran, with BTC near $63K and ETH around $1.85K.

Well, Morgan Stanley’s move marks a pivotal moment in Wall Street’s embrace of digital assets. Banks are no longer limited to advisory roles, they are stepping into direct crypto participation, offering custody, lending, and other regulated services. 

This entry could trigger a network effect, driving broader institutional adoption and bolstering the legitimacy and resilience of the crypto market.

In short, Morgan Stanley’s application signals that the era of cautious experimentation is over. Institutional-grade crypto services are here, supported by growing confidence and expanding infrastructure. With Wall Street fully engaged, the convergence of traditional finance and crypto has entered a new, decisive phase.

Meanwhile, SpaceX is planning a confidential March IPO filing, targeting a valuation above $1.75 trillion, potentially creating one of the largest listings ever.

Conclusion

Morgan Stanley’s pursuit of a federally regulated crypto bank charter signals that digital assets are moving from experiment to mainstream finance. 

As Wall Street ramps up involvement, secure infrastructure for large-scale digital asset management is emerging, boosting institutional confidence and accelerating market growth. The future of finance is digital, regulated, and already underway.