Morgan Stanley Set to Launch First Major US Bank-Sponsored Spot Bitcoin ETF

Morgan Stanley is on the cusp of launching its own spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), marking a significant milestone for the financial giant. The NYSE Arca-listed MSBT fund will be the first major U.S. bank to sponsor and issue its own spot Bitcoin ETF.

According to Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas, the New York Stock Exchange has formally announced the listing, indicating that an imminent debut is near. Morgan Stanley initially submitted its application in January and filed an amended S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within the past week.

The bank's foray into spot Bitcoin ETFs comes as it operates a financial advisor network of 16,000 professionals who manage $6.2 trillion in client assets, roughly double the combined totals at Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan.