What did Morgan Stanley launch on E*Trade?

Morgan Stanley launched a cryptocurrency trading pilot on its E*Trade platform, allowing users to trade digital assets directly through the brokerage. The platform is charging 50 basis points per transaction, which is lower than some major retail competitors.

Why does Morgan Stanley’s crypto trading move matter?

The launch shows that major Wall Street banks are pushing deeper into crypto as demand from retail investors continues to grow. It also increases competition for platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood, especially on trading fees.

How do Morgan Stanley’s crypto fees compare with Coinbase and Charles Schwab?

Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade pilot charges 50 basis points per trade, while Charles Schwab recently launched crypto trading at 75 basis points per transaction. Some crypto-native exchanges like Kraken Pro and Binance US may still offer lower fees for active traders.

How many users could gain access to Morgan Stanley’s crypto trading platform?

Morgan Stanley plans to eventually expand the pilot to E*Trade’s 8.6 million clients later this year. That could significantly increase mainstream retail access to crypto trading through a traditional brokerage platform.

Is Morgan Stanley becoming more aggressive in crypto?

Yes, Morgan Stanley has expanded its crypto offerings in recent months, including launching its spot Bitcoin ETF called MSBT. The ETF reportedly attracted $30.6 million in inflows on its first trading day on NYSE Arca.

How could this affect Coinbase and other crypto exchanges?

Lower-fee competition from Wall Street firms could pressure crypto exchanges to reduce fees or improve services. Traditional brokers also already have large customer bases, which may make it easier to onboard new crypto investors.

What is the main strategy behind Morgan Stanley’s crypto push?

Morgan Stanley appears to be positioning itself as a full-service digital asset provider for retail and institutional investors. The strategy includes trading access, Bitcoin ETFs, and broader exposure to crypto investment products.

Is this bullish for crypto adoption in traditional finance?

Many investors may see this as a positive sign because large financial institutions are continuing to integrate crypto products into mainstream investing platforms. However, broader adoption still depends on regulation, market demand, and crypto price stability.

Morgan Stanley cuts crypto trading fees on E*Trade

Written by Liezl GambePublished May. 7 2026Last Updated May. 7 2026

Morgan Stanley has launched a cryptocurrency trading pilot on its E*Trade platform with fees lower than some major US crypto exchanges and brokerage rivals.

The Wall Street bank is charging 50 basis points per crypto transaction, below the standard retail pricing offered by Coinbase, Robinhood and Charles Schwab, according to Bloomberg.

The pilot programme is expected to expand to E*Trade’s 8.6 million clients later this year as traditional financial institutions intensify competition for retail crypto trading revenue.

A spokesperson for Morgan Stanley confirmed to Cointelegraph that the fee structure and details contained in the Bloomberg report were accurate.

The latest expansion into digital assets follows Morgan Stanley’s launch of its spot Bitcoin ETF, MSBT, which attracted $30.6 million in inflows during its first day of trading on NYSE Arca.

Rival brokerage firm Charles Schwab recently introduced spot Bitcoin and Ether trading for retail investors with transaction fees of 75 basis points, while Goldman Sachs filed plans with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a Bitcoin options income ETF product.

Earlier institutional crypto initiatives included BNY Mellon launching a digital asset custody platform in the United States in 2022 that enabled selected clients to hold and transfer Bitcoin and Ether.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $80,950.18.