Just In: Morgan Stanley CEO Reveals Plans To Offer Crypto Services

Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick said his bank would engage with US regulators to test their potential for expanding processes in crypto trading. During his World Economic Forum speech in Davos, Pick reported Morgan Stanley is testing its potential role as a transactor for digital assets based on its strict regulatory standards.

Morgan Stanley To Explore Crypto Services Under Pro-Crypto Trump Administration

During his latest interview Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick explained how his bank will partner with U.S. regulators to evaluate cryptocurrency market participation. Digital assets have gained more support due to Trump administration policies that favor cryptocurrency.

Pick stated that the bank’s focus is on determining whether it can safely act as a transactor within the regulatory framework. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with key agencies, including the U.S. Treasury and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to establish a compliant approach to offering crypto services.

These developments come as the pro-crypto Trump administration takes over from the previous Biden administration. The administration has shown optimism toward digital assets. Recently, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expressed confidence in Trump’s impact on crypto. He highlighted Bitcoin’s all-time high and expects increased investments under Trump’s leadership.

A History of Innovation in Cryptocurrency Offerings

Morgan Stanley sets the standard for cryptocurrency usage among competing firms. In 2021 Morgan Stanley became the first American bank to provide Bitcoin investment options to their wealth management clients. Consequently, with more clients requesting digital asset access in 2022 Morgan Stanley launched Bitcoin ETFs to meet this need.

Pick highlighted the bank’s proactive stance in the sector, noting that interest from clients has driven their crypto-related initiatives. Despite regulatory limitations under the previous administration, Morgan Stanley continued to explore ways to integrate cryptocurrencies.

Morgan Stanley CEO added, 

“We’ll be working with Treasury and the other regulators to figure out how we can offer that in a safe way.”

Regulatory Clarity To Pave Way For Bank Participation

The evolving regulatory landscape is creating new opportunities for major financial institutions. According to Pick, Morgan Stanley’s involvement in cryptocurrency markets depends on whether regulations allow for safe and secure participation.

Under the Biden administration, banks faced stricter limitations, restricting direct ownership of cryptocurrencies. However, with the SEC’s recent push to develop a regulatory framework for digital assets, banks like Morgan Stanley are exploring options to expand their crypto services.

Other institutions, including Bank of America, have also expressed interest in entering the market if clear regulations are established. This shift in policy could pave the way for widespread adoption of crypto services across the banking industry.

Moreover, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon highlighted plans to restructure the bank’s blockchain-based digital assets platform within the next one to two years. He emphasized that the firm has built infrastructure for digital assets but awaits regulatory changes to fully engage in Bitcoin and Ethereum trading.