- Morgan Stanley has given its advisers the green light to offer Bitcoin ETFs to wealthy clients, a big step towards cryptocurrency investments.
- Bitcoin ETFs have seen a lot of growth recently, with almost $18 billion in net inflows this year.
OUR TAKE
Morgan Stanley is set to make it much easier for people to invest in cryptocurrencies. They’re launching a new programme that lets their financial advisers offer Bitcoin ETFs to clients with a high net worth. This is a pretty bold move, involving big funds like BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust and Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund. It shows that cryptocurrencies are becoming more accepted in traditional finance. In my view, this is a big decision that could lead to other major banks accepting and integrating digital assets, which shows that they’re more confident in the stability and potential of cryptocurrencies.
–Heidi Luo, BTW reporter
What happened
Morgan Stanley has given the green light to its vast network of financial advisors to offer bitcoin ETFs to wealthy clients, a move that could begin as early as next week, according to Bloomberg.
The approval specifically covers BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC). The initiative is aimed at clients with a net worth of at least $1.5 million who are looking for high-risk, speculative investments.
The decision follows the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent and cautious approval of spot bitcoin ETFs earlier this year. These ETFs, particularly BlackRock’s IBIT, have performed exceptionally well and have attracted significant assets. IBIT alone has attracted nearly $22 billion since its inception, while FBTC has amassed around $11 billion in assets.
Also read: Wall Street’s ETF engine revs up after $17B bitcoin haul
Also read: US spot ether ETFs debut, boosting crypto industry
Why it’s important
Morgan Stanley is a leading global investment banking, securities, investment management and asset management firm. Founded in 1935, the firm is renowned for its innovative financial solutions and commitment to client service.
With an extensive network of offices in the world’s major financial centres, Morgan Stanley serves a diverse group of corporations, governments, financial institutions and individuals.
The firm’s global financial expertise helps clients achieve their goals through a wide range of innovative financial services, including mergers and acquisitions advice, public and private debt and equity financing, and asset management products and services.
The decision to offer bitcoin ETFs to wealthy clients not only diversifies the financial giant’s investment offerings, but also sets a precedent for the integration of digital assets into the portfolios of traditional investment banks. The move could act as a catalyst for other financial institutions that have been reluctant to enter the volatile cryptocurrency market.
The group of US bitcoin ETFs has attracted nearly $18 billion in net inflows since its launch, part of a record-breaking debut for a fund category. In July, the SEC approved the issuance of ETFs tracking ether, the second largest cryptocurrency after bitcoin.
