Morgan Stanley explores full digital asset services, including Bitcoin loans

Morgan Stanley, the Wall Street bank that manages nearly $9 trillion in assets, plans to offer its clients custody, trading, lending and yield generation services on Bitcoin (BTC).

Morgan Stanley is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States. In addition, its client base includes individual investors, high net worth individuals and institutional players.

Main points of the article:

• Morgan Stanley’s entry into BTC services gives clients direct access to Bitcoin through a trusted and regulated institution.
• Additionally, the addition of performance and lending products expands Bitcoin’s utility beyond mere custody, and attracts customers looking for returns on their digital assets.
• Wall Street’s adoption of this magnitude reflects Bitcoin’s shift from speculation to structural integration into the global financial system.

Item details:

• Amy Oldenburg, head of digital asset strategy at Morgan Stanley, confirmed that the bank plans to build a native custody and exchange solution.
• Speaking with Fong Li, CEO of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), he added that Bitcoin-based returns and lending services are part of ongoing discussion and exploration at the bank.
• The bank had previously hired for cryptocurrency-focused positions related to decentralized financial infrastructure (defi) and asset tokenization, signaling an expansion of its digital asset strategy.
• In January 2026, the bank filed spot ETFs on Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana with the SEC.

The bigger picture:

• River data shows that Fidelity Investments, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley each recommend that clients allocate 1-5% of their portfolios to Bitcoin.
• Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley’s move is part of a wider trend of big banks expanding their digital currency service offerings to institutional and retail clients.