E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley has launched spot cryptocurrency trading, allowing eligible clients to buy, sell and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana through its investment platform.
The service is being offered through a partnership with digital asset infrastructure provider zerohash.
Eligible clients can access cryptocurrency through a linked zerohash account and view their digital assets alongside stocks and other traditional investments held through E*TRADE.
Crypto transactions are priced at 50 basis points, equivalent to 0.50% of the transaction value.
E*TRADE expects to introduce functionality allowing clients to transfer digital assets later in 2026.
The rollout expands Morgan Stanley’s digital asset strategy while giving self-directed investors access to cryptocurrency through an established financial services platform.
Although clients will see their cryptocurrency within the E*TRADE experience, the digital assets will be held in a separate, non-brokerage zerohash account.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney will not execute or custody the digital asset transactions.
Cryptocurrency held through zerohash is not protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.
E*TRADE said the ability to view cryptocurrency alongside traditional investments addresses demand from customers seeking a more integrated approach to managing their finances.
A Morgan Stanley Wealth Management survey conducted in April 2026 found that 32% of respondents ranked access through an established and trusted company as one of the most important factors when selecting a cryptocurrency platform.
The ability to see digital assets alongside traditional investments was cited by 26% of respondents.
Transaction fees were selected by 25%, while cryptocurrency pricing and customer service were identified by 23% and 22%, respectively.
The survey included 940 U.S. investors across self-directed, professionally managed and hybrid investment relationships.
The crypto launch is part of a broader group of updates across E*TRADE’s investing, retirement planning and active trading products.
E*TRADE has introduced a new Guided Retirement Planning experience supported by Morgan Stanley’s Goals Planning System.
The experience allows users to customize savings, spending and asset allocation assumptions while using built-in estimators to evaluate retirement plans.
E*TRADE has also expanded fractional share trading across all of its platforms.
Fractional shares enable investors to purchase a portion of a stock rather than buying one complete share, potentially making higher-priced securities more accessible.
The company has also modernized its IPO Center and added educational resources intended to help clients evaluate newly offered securities.
Updates to the Power E*TRADE Pro desktop platform include a ticker tape that keeps popular market indexes visible, additional order management tools and a redesigned news experience.
Active traders can now read complete news articles without leaving the platform.
E*TRADE has also introduced dynamic column sorting that updates with the market, a higher-contrast Midnight display theme and options for increasing font boldness.
The enhancements are intended to serve investors across different stages, ranging from people purchasing their first shares to experienced active traders and customers planning for retirement.
Morgan Stanley said customers increasingly expect to invest, trade, bank and plan through a connected financial platform.
The company believes adding cryptocurrency trading can help E*TRADE meet those changing expectations while providing access to Morgan Stanley research, market insights and broader wealth management resources.
Digital asset services are expected to transition to Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, National Association, which is being organized as a national trust bank.
E*TRADE’s introduction of cryptocurrency spot trading gives eligible customers direct economic exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana without requiring them to open and monitor an entirely separate consumer cryptocurrency application.
However, the assets remain subject to substantial price volatility and the possibility of complete investment loss.
KEY QUOTES:
“It’s an exciting time for ETRADE clients with all we are delivering to enhance our product offering and turbocharge the client experience. With the rollout of crypto trading on ETRADE, we’re advancing our digital assets strategy and bringing new capabilities to clients in an integrated way. ETRADE has a long tradition of delivering powerful tools and innovative investment offerings that put clients in control of their financial lives.”*
Chad Turner, Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Platforms
“Our clients’ needs are evolving, and they want to invest, trade, bank and plan for the future all in one place. Whether they’re buying their first share, exploring crypto, participating in an IPO or planning for retirement, our job is to meet them where they are, with the confidence and trust that comes from being part of Morgan Stanley.”
Matt Jones, Head of E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
