Wall Street's Latest Play: Major Bank Expands Crypto Investment Funds Portfolio

Morgan Stanley is making waves in the cryptocurrency investment space by filing registration documents for two new spot-based investment funds—one tracking Bitcoin and another following Solana. The S-1 filings, submitted to the SEC for regulatory green light, signal the financial giant’s continued confidence in crypto as an institutional investment vehicle.

The New Investment Funds on the Horizon

The Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust and Morgan Stanley Solana Trust are positioned as passive investment funds designed to track the real-time performance of their respective cryptocurrencies. Unlike some competitors, Morgan Stanley is taking the direct approach, branding these funds under its own name rather than partnering through joint ventures or third-party sponsors.

As of the latest update, Bitcoin was trading around $95,300 with a 24-hour decline of 1.42%, while Solana moved to approximately $142.85, down 1.60% over the same period. The timing of these filings reflects growing institutional appetite despite short-term market volatility.

Investment Landscape: ETF Market Boom

The crypto ETF space has experienced explosive growth since Bitcoin spot ETFs launched in January 2024. Currently, Bitcoin-focused investment funds command roughly $119 billion in assets under management globally. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) dominates this category, holding $72.8 billion alone—demonstrating institutional capital’s substantial commitment to regulated crypto exposure.

Solana ETFs represent a newer investment category that emerged in October 2025 with the Bitwise Solana ETF, followed by entrants from VanEck, Fidelity, and Grayscale. These funds have capitalized on growing interest in Solana-based opportunities.

Key Details on Morgan Stanley’s Offering

The registration forms submitted don’t yet specify custodial arrangements or fee structures—common practice in early-stage ETF filings. The bank will eventually designate crypto counterparties to handle USD-to-BTC and USD-to-SOL conversions, but these operational details remain pending finalization.

Morgan Stanley’s move underscores how traditional finance institutions continue expanding their cryptocurrency investment infrastructure, offering clients easier access to digital assets through familiar, regulated investment vehicles rather than direct crypto purchases.