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Does Morgan Stanley offer Crypto?
In March of 2021, Morgan Stanley announced that they would be the first major US Bank to offer cryptocurrency services to their wealthy clients. They justified this on the basis that their institutional clients were the only class of person suitable to deal with the volatility that comes with cryptocurrencies.
As at time of writing, Morgan Stanley does not offer cryptocurrency trading for their day to day retail banking customers. Their offering for institutional clients is also somewhat limited and is generally not a recommended way to get exposure to the asset class.
How to buy Cryptocurrency with Morgan Stanley
The best way to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies through a Morgan Stanley account is through a trusted and regulated digital asset exchange in the United States. We recommend a platform like Uphold because they are licensed in the USA and offer 250+ crypto assets with zero fees.
You can follow this simple guide below to get started:
- Sign Up: Create an account on Uphold and complete your verification (personal or company).
- Connect Account: Select the currency you want deposit on the Uphold Platform (USD + 30 more).
- Deposit Funds: Connect your US Bank account or Debit/Credit Card to deposit your fiat currency.
- Buy Crypto: The final step is to find the cryptocurrency you want to buy and execute your trade.
Is Morgan Stanley Crypto-Friendly?
Morgan Stanley, like many traditional financial institutions, has taken a cautious approach to cryptocurrency. In the past, the company has stated that it does not trade cryptocurrencies, and it has also warned its clients about the risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies. However, more recently, Morgan Stanley has started to explore ways to participate in the cryptocurrency market.
In 2020, the firm announced plans to offer its wealthy clients access to Bitcoin funds, which would allow them to invest in Bitcoin through traditional brokerage accounts, and also announced that it's going to offer its wealth management clients access to 3 funds that invest in bitcoin futures. As in any market, the approach and attitude of a company or financial institution may evolve with time.
What is Morgan Stanley?
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in New York City. With offices in more than 42 countries and 57,000 employees, the firm provides a full range of services to its clients, including investment banking, sales and trading, research, financial advisory, asset management, and more.
Founded in 1935 by Henry Morgan and Harold Stanley, Morgan Stanley has a long history of helping clients succeed. The firm has advised on some of the most important transactions in recent history, including the initial public offerings (IPOs) of companies like Google, LinkedIn, and Alibaba. Morgan Stanley was also the lead underwriter for Apple Inc.'s first bond offering in the 1980s, and more recently, the firm served as one of the lead underwriters for Facebook's 2012 IPO.
Morgan Stanley is a publicly-traded company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MS). As of 2018, the firm had a market capitalization of $87 billion.
Final Thoughts
Morgan Stanley is one of the largest and most respected banks in the United States and is a trusted source for investors looking to get involved in cryptocurrency. While Morgan Stanley does not currently offer direct trading services for cryptocurrencies, it does offer exposure to digital assets through its wealth management services.
As more financial institutions continue to embrace cryptocurrency, we may eventually see Morgan Stanley offer direct trading services as well. In the meantime, investors can access cryptocurrency through a trusted and regulated digital asset exchange in the United States.
