Morgan Stanley completed the rollout of cryptocurrency trading on its ETrade platform Thursday, offering eligible clients spot bitcoin, ether, and solana trading with 50 basis point transaction fees. The bank partnered with Zerohash to handle custody and settlement, enabling 24/7 trading through ETrade's web and mobile apps. Morgan Stanley launched the service to meet client demand for integrated investing, trading, and banking in one platform, according to Matt Jones, Head of E*Trade. The 50 basis point fee structure undercuts Coinbase's 60 basis point and Robinhood's 95 basis point rates, positioning Morgan Stanley competitively in the retail crypto brokerage market.
E*Trade Offers Spot Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana Trading With Zerohash Custody
Eligible ETrade clients can buy, sell, and hold bitcoin, ether, and solana inside the same interface used for stocks and exchange-traded funds, with trading available around the clock on web and mobile apps. The service provides direct spot exposure rather than fund wrappers or futures products. Zerohash, a business-to-business crypto infrastructure firm, handles liquidity, execution, custody, and settlement, holding digital assets in accounts linked to clients' brokerage accounts. The ability to transfer crypto on and off the platform is expected to arrive later in 2026. Matt Jones, Head of ETrade, stated that clients want to invest, trade, bank, and plan for the future all in one place.
Morgan Stanley Charges 50 Basis Points Per Transaction
Morgan Stanley charges 50 basis points per transaction, equivalent to $5 for every $1,000 traded. This pricing undercuts Coinbase's rates of up to 60 basis points and Robinhood's rates of up to 95 basis points. The bank began with a pilot for a small portion of customers earlier this year before Thursday's full availability. Chad Turner, Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Platforms, stated that the rollout advances the bank's digital assets strategy and brings new capabilities to clients in an integrated way. Morgan Stanley first unveiled the plan in September 2025, announcing it was working with Zerohash to bring bitcoin, ether, and solana trading to E*Trade in the first half of 2026.
Morgan Stanley Files for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs and Seeks OCC Trust Charter
Morgan Stanley filed for spot bitcoin and solana ETFs in January 2026 and has since updated its ether and solana ETF applications, naming Coinbase as custodian and staking facilitator. The bank applied for a national trust charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, seeking a federally regulated subsidiary focused on digital asset custody. Bitcoin traded near $63,000 on July 17, down about 2% in 24 hours. The Senate is weighing the CLARITY Act as a possible federal market structure law.
FAQ
What cryptocurrencies does E*Trade now offer for trading?
E*Trade now offers spot bitcoin, ether, and solana trading 24/7 through its web and mobile apps, with Zerohash handling custody and settlement.
How does Morgan Stanley's crypto trading fee compare to Coinbase and Robinhood?
Morgan Stanley charges 50 basis points per transaction ($5 per $1,000 traded), which undercuts Coinbase's rates of up to 60 basis points and Robinhood's rates of up to 95 basis points.
When will E*Trade clients be able to transfer crypto on and off the platform?
The ability to transfer crypto on and off E*Trade is expected to arrive later in 2026.
