How Morgan Stanley, TD Cowen, Citibank Are Embracing Bitcoin

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), TD Bank and Citgroup (NYSE:C) have outlined plans to integrate Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) into traditional finance as regulatory clarity improves and institutional demand grows.

At the "Bitcoin for Corporations" panel during Strategy World 2026 on Feb. 28, the banks discussed how digital assets could be integrated into traditional financial infrastructure.

Morgan Stanley Expands Crypto Services On E*TRADE

Morgan Stanley said it is expanding its crypto strategy by enabling clients on its E*TRADE platform to buy and sell spot cryptocurrencies.

Amy Oldenburg, the bank's head of digital asset strategy, said the firm is also building native custody and exchange infrastructure so clients can securely hold Bitcoin directly with Morgan Stanley.

The bank is exploring additional services including Bitcoin-backed lending, yield products and other crypto-related financial offerings.

Morgan Stanley is also developing crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs), wallet technology for wealth clients and tokenization of assets such as equities and funds.

Citigroup Aims To Make “Bitcoin Bankable”

Citigroup is working to integrate Bitcoin into traditional financial infrastructure by building institutional-grade custody and settlement systems.

Nisha Surendran, head of digital assets custody at Citi Investor Services, said the bank plans to incorporate Bitcoin into its existing custody platform, which already holds roughly $30 trillion in traditional assets.

This would allow institutional clients to manage Bitcoin alongside securities, bonds and tokenized assets within the same account framework.

Citi's goal, Surendran said, is to make "Bitcoin bankable" by simplifying institutional access to crypto while reducing operational friction. The bank is also exploring cross-margining between crypto and traditional assets.

TD Bank Takes “Crawl, Walk, Run” Approach

TD Bank is taking what executives describe as a "crawl, walk, run" approach to digital assets.

Jeffrey Solomon, former CEO of Cowen Inc., said the bank has been developing a broader crypto strategy following TD's acquisition of the investment bank.

The strategy includes exploring Bitcoin-related investment products, advisory services and financing tied to Bitcoin holdings. TD is also evaluating ways to support companies raising capital to purchase Bitcoin through equity offerings.

At the institutional level, the bank is building capabilities around stablecoins, tokenized deposits, payments infrastructure and Bitcoin-linked financial products as regulations evolve.

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