Morgan Stanley 'Definitely' Intends to Provide Bitcoin Custody, Trading, Yield, and Lending Services: Executive

Morgan Stanley Eyes Bitcoin Services for Clients

Morgan Stanley, a leading Wall Street firm managing close to $9 trillion in assets, is preparing to enable its clients to store and trade Bitcoin directly on its platform, according to Amy Oldenburg, the newly appointed head of digital assets strategy.

When asked about the possibility of introducing Bitcoin-based yield and lending products, Oldenburg expressed strong support for the idea.

“Absolutely, that’s part of our ongoing discussions and plans,” she explained during a conversation with Strategy CEO Phong Le at the Bitcoin for Corporations conference in Las Vegas. “We’re still in the early stages, but exploring these services is a natural progression for us.”

Oldenburg emphasized that Morgan Stanley is focused on developing its own internal infrastructure before launching Bitcoin services for clients.

“It’s essential for us to build these capabilities ourselves rather than relying solely on external technology,” she said. “Clients trust the Morgan Stanley name, and with that comes a responsibility to deliver reliable solutions at every technological level.”

When questioned about the amount of cryptocurrency currently held by Morgan Stanley’s clients outside the bank’s platform, Oldenburg described it as “significant.” However, she noted that not all clients are expected to transfer their Bitcoin to the bank’s custody solutions.

“There will always be clients who prefer to manage their own assets, especially within the Bitcoin community,” she added.

Decrypt reached out to Morgan Stanley for more details on their Bitcoin plans and potential launch dates, but the bank did not immediately respond.

Before stepping into her current role this month, Oldenburg spent 26 years at Morgan Stanley, most recently leading the firm’s emerging markets investment division.

Further Developments in Crypto Offerings

For several months, there has been speculation about Morgan Stanley expanding its range of crypto products for clients. In September, the bank confirmed plans to offer trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through its E*Trade app starting earlier this year. In October, CNBC reported that Morgan Stanley had informed its financial advisors about intentions to broaden its crypto services for customers.

Most recently, the bank submitted an S-1 registration to the SEC to launch an Ethereum ETF as part of its upcoming crypto fund offerings, following similar filings for Bitcoin and Solana funds just a day earlier.