Morgan Stanley Ethereum ETF Filing Signals Wall Street Shift

Morgan Stanley Ethereum ETF Filing Clarifies Rumors, Boosts Trust

Morgan Stanley is expanding its presence in the crypto market by filing with the SEC for a spot Ethereum Trust. This move comes just days after the bank submitted filings for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, showing its growing commitment to bringing regulated digital asset products to institutional and retail clients. 

Source: SEC Official

The filings highlight how major Wall Street firms are increasingly entering the crypto space, reflecting wider adoption of cryptocurrencies through familiar and regulated investment vehicles.

What Morgan Stanley Actually Filed

MorganStanley, which manages around $1.7–1.8 trillion in assets, submitted S-1 filings to the SEC on January 6, 2026, for two products:

• A spot Bitcoin ETF, tracking BTC prices directly

• A spot Solana ETF, including staking rewards

This marked the first time a major U.S. bank, not just asset managers like BlackRock or Fidelity, applied to launch its own spot-crypto ETFs. 

Ethereum ETF Filing Confirmed a Day Later

Following the two previous filing, Morgan Stanley followed up with a confirmed filing for a Ethereum-ETF. The proposed fund would hold ETH directly and stake part of its holdings through third-party providers, aiming to generate extra yield.

If approved, this would make Morgan Stanley the first major U.S. bank to issue a spot Ethereum ETF, signaling deeper institutional confidence in ETH.

Other Ether ETFs on the Market

Ethereum funds already exist from key players:

• BlackRock iShares ETH Trust (ETHA):  low fees and high inflows

• Fidelity ETH Fund (FETH): institutional-friendly option

• Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE & Mini Trust): first to enable staking, with payouts starting Jan 6, 2026

• Bitwise's ETHW, VanEck's ETHV, ARK/21Shares Ethereum ETF, Invesco Galaxy ETH ETF, and Franklin Ethereum's EZET

Together, these products manage $19–20 billion in assets, showing strong investor interest and adoption. Morgan Stanley’s entry adds credibility and competition in this growing space.

Matter for Broader Crypto Markets: ETFs on High Demand

Wall Street adoption is accelerating. Bitcoin-ETFs already hold over $120 billion in assets, and Ethereum-ETFs have seen renewed inflows in early 2026 after a slow end to 2025.

The Solana-ETF’s staking feature has also drawn attention, with analysts estimating $10–20 billion in potential inflows if approved.

Together, these filings strengthen crypto’s position as a mainstream investment option.

The Bigger Picture

This move signals a major step toward institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. MorganStanley’s filings strengthen the legitimacy of Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Solana as investment options.

With Wall Street involvement increasing, 2026 could mark a turning point for crypto’s integration into traditional finance. Investors are watching closely to see if approvals follow and how inflows could impact prices.