Buying coins is simply not enough. Morgan Stanley will launch a wallet in the second half of the year, targeting the tokenized private market.

Morgan Stanley plans to launch a digital asset wallet in the second half of 2026, integrating E*Trade and tokenized private markets, bridging TradFi and DeFi.

Targeting the second half of 2026, creating an asset hub connecting traditional and digital assets

Wall Street financial giant Morgan Stanley is accelerating its digital asset strategy. According to Barron’s, the firm plans to launch its own digital asset wallet in the second half of 2026. This product is not only designed for Bitcoin ($BTC) or Ethereum ($ETH), but also to support “tokenized” real-world assets (RWA).

Jed Finn, head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, pointed out that this wallet will serve as a key infrastructure connecting traditional wealth management with blockchain technology, allowing clients to manage diverse investment portfolios—from stocks and bonds to digital assets—in a single interface, addressing the current fragmentation in asset management.

Image source: Bloomberg Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Head Jed Finn

E*Trade First, ETF Follow, Full-Scale Crypto Trading Deployment

Before the wallet’s launch, Morgan Stanley will first open trading services for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) in the first half of 2026 through its subsidiary E*Trade platform.

Through collaboration with infrastructure provider Zerohash, the firm will offer users direct buy and sell channels for mainstream cryptocurrencies.

Additionally, Morgan Stanley has submitted applications to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for spot ETFs on Bitcoin and Solana, including an Ethereum ETF with staking yield features, demonstrating its commitment to providing clients with more diverse crypto exposure within a regulated framework.

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Solving IPO Delays with Tokenization to Innovate Private Markets

Morgan Stanley’s strategic vision extends into the “private markets.” Given that the average time for a company to go public (IPO) has increased from 5 years to 14 years, many wealth creation opportunities are locked in the private phase.

To address this, Morgan Stanley has partnered with equity management platform Carta and acquired private stock trading marketplace EquityZen, actively developing liquidity solutions for unlisted stocks.

The firm plans to leverage digital wallets and tokenization technology to transform cumbersome private equity transactions into seamless digital experiences, enabling instant settlement and reducing transaction friction, allowing tokenized equity to circulate as conveniently as traditional securities.

Integrating TradFi and DeFi, shaping the future financial landscape

Jed Finn emphasized that these initiatives aim to adapt to changes in financial infrastructure, signaling that “Traditional Finance” (TradFi) and “Decentralized Finance” (DeFi) will gradually merge. In future scenarios, clients might use cryptocurrencies as collateral to buy stocks, or vice versa, enabling more efficient asset utilization.

Morgan Stanley is building a comprehensive ecosystem—including wallets, trading platforms, and custody services—dedicated to becoming a leader across traditional and digital financial industries, meeting the diverse asset allocation needs of the new generation of investors.