Official SEC publications

Morgan Stanley to Collaborate with U.S. Regulators on Crypto Transactions Amid SEC Framework Development

Jan 23, 2025, 03:21 PM

Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick announced that the bank will collaborate with U.S. regulators to explore deeper involvement in cryptocurrency markets. This move comes under the pro-crypto Trump administration, which has prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission to develop a regulatory framework for digital currencies. Pick emphasized the bank's interest in acting as a transactor in the crypto space, aiming to offer transactions in a safe manner in partnership with the Treasury and other regulatory bodies. Morgan Stanley has been a leader in the industry, having been the first major U.S. bank to offer bitcoin funds to its wealthy clients in 2021 and leading the way in offering bitcoin ETFs last year. The bank's strategy is driven by client demand for bitcoin exposure, and Pick noted the staying power of bitcoin, which now trades above $100,000, suggesting it may have reached 'escape velocity' in the market.