Morgan Stanley filed for a spot Bitcoin ETF on March 24, 2026. This move represents the first time a major U.S. bank has sought to launch its own spot crypto investment product.
The bank intends to leverage a distribution network of 15,000 financial advisors. This infrastructure provides the firm with direct access to $5.5 trillion in client assets.
Analysts expect the filing to challenge the market dominance of BlackRock’s IBIT fund. Morgan Stanley’s reach among high-net-worth and institutional clients may divert assets from existing ETFs.
BlackRock’s IBIT recorded a net outflow of approximately $45.94 million on March 23. This withdrawal occurred as the broader Bitcoin price rally showed signs of stalling.