Morgan Stanley Updates Bitcoin ETF Filing as SEC Reviews 126

TLDR

• Morgan Stanley filed an amended S-1 for its Bitcoin ETF with detailed operational updates.
• The Bitcoin Trust will trade under the ticker MSBT on NYSE Arca.
• The fund will use the CoinDesk Bitcoin Benchmark for daily pricing at 4 PM New York time.
• Coinbase Custody will secure Bitcoin holdings while Bank of New York Mellon will handle cash and administration.
• The ETF will support both cash and in-kind creation and redemption for institutional participants.

Morgan Stanley updated its Bitcoin ETF filing on March 18, 2026, with new operational details. The move positions the bank as a direct issuer in crypto markets. The update also comes as the SEC reviews over 126 pending crypto ETF applications.

Morgan Stanley Advances Bitcoin ETF Strategy

Morgan Stanley filed its second amended S-1 registration for the Bitcoin Trust. The fund will trade under the ticker MSBT on NYSE Arca.

The filing confirms daily pricing based on the CoinDesk Bitcoin Benchmark. The benchmark uses a 4:00 PM New York settlement rate.

Coinbase Custody will store Bitcoin in offline cold storage systems. Meanwhile, Bank of New York Mellon will manage cash custody and administrative roles.

The fund will support both cash and in-kind creations and redemptions. This structure targets institutional legal participants.

Morgan Stanley aligned the filing with its European Financials Conference. Co-President Dan Simkowitz highlighted integrated wealth management strategies during the event.

The bank aims to capture management fees through direct issuance. Analysts estimate expense ratios between 0.20% and 0.30%.

Morgan Stanley has over 15,000 financial advisors across its network. Reports state advisors can recommend Bitcoin ETFs to clients since early 2026.

The firm manages approximately $1.8 trillion in wealth management assets. This scale supports the distribution of its own ETF products.

Bitcoin ETF Outflows Reflect Market Pressure

Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of about $129.6 million on March 18. Data from Farside Investors confirmed the daily movement.

BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for over $100 million in withdrawals. Other funds from Fidelity and Bitwise also reported smaller outflows.

These outflows follow recent Bitcoin price weakness near the $70,000 level. Market data shows brief dips below that threshold.

The pattern indicates reduced institutional demand during recent sessions. ETF flows have tracked price movements closely in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs expanded its crypto exposure through acquisitions. The bank purchased Innovator, a Bitcoin ETF issuer, for $2 billion.

Goldman Sachs now holds about $2.4 billion in crypto exchange-traded products. These include positions in XRP and Solana funds.

JPMorgan analysts project strong inflows from pension funds and endowments. Estimates suggest up to $130 billion in annual inflows during 2026.

Ethereum and Solana ETF Plans Expand Pipeline

Morgan Stanley filed for a spot Ethereum ETF on January 7, 2026. The fund will hold physical Ether and include staking features.

The Ethereum Trust will generate yield through staking activities. Rewards will contribute to net asset value calculations.

The bank also filed a Solana Trust on January 6, 2026. This product will track SOL performance as a passive investment vehicle.

The Solana Trust will stake a portion of its holdings. Staking rewards will be distributed to shareholders quarterly.

The SEC approved listing rules for spot altcoin ETFs in late 2025. This decision opened pathways for multiple new crypto products.

Fidelity amended its Ethereum ETF filing in March 2026. The update added staking provisions to enhance yield potential.

Eight XRP ETF applications remain under SEC review. Analysts estimate potential inflows between $5 billion and $7 billion upon approval.

Bitwise launched its BSOL ETF earlier in 2026 on NYSE Arca. The fund recorded $56 million in first-day trading volume.

Grayscale and Trump Media proposed a multi-asset Crypto Blue Chip ETF. The product aims to include BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP exposure.

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