Morgan Stanley’s cryptocurrency trading pilot is emerging as a competitive rival to some of the largest crypto exchanges in terms of trading fees.
Morgan Stanley operates a pilot program for cryptocurrency trading. The program is becoming a competitive option against prominent crypto exchanges thanks to its fee levels. This allows clients to trade digital assets with costs that match or beat those of specialized platforms.
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Morgan Stanley has filed for a national trust bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to provide cryptocurrency custody services to institutional clients. The application, submitted on February 18, aims to position the Wall Street giant as a direct competitor to crypto-native custodians. This move reflects a broader trend of traditional banks expanding into digital assets amid a more favorable regulatory environment.
Morgan Stanley has started offering clients the ability to trade cryptocurrencies directly inside E*Trade brokerage accounts, executing a partnership announced last September.
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Citigroup plans to launch institutional bitcoin custody later this year, integrating it into traditional banking frameworks. Morgan Stanley has applied for a national trust charter to support crypto trading for its clients and is advancing spot trading on E*TRADE. These moves reflect growing institutional demand for digital assets within regulated systems.
Coinbase has introduced futures contracts for cryptocurrency trading in 26 European countries, marking its first direct derivatives offering in the region. The products, available through Coinbase Advanced, comply with EU regulations via a MiFID-registered entity. This launch provides a regulated alternative to offshore platforms previously used by European traders.
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A wave of cryptocurrency exchange initial public offerings in 2025 highlighted the sector's maturation, but recent setbacks reveal heavy dependence on Bitcoin's price movements. Gemini's post-IPO struggles and Kraken's frozen listing underscore vulnerabilities to market cycles. Exchanges must prove revenue stability beyond Bitcoin rallies to sustain investor interest.
Following December 2025 charter approvals for crypto firms, the OCC has closed comments on proposed rules clarifying national trust bank activities, while the CFTC issued guidance allowing stablecoins as margin collateral. Banking groups continue criticizing the charters as regulatory arbitrage and 'Franken-charters,' urging safeguards.