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Morgan Stanley executive says crypto ETF adoption by advisors is still very early

Morgan Stanley executive says crypto ETF adoption by advisors is still very early

Morgan Stanley says professional use of crypto funds remains limited, with most platform distribution driven by self-directed retail activity even as the bank expands access to spot Bitcoin ETFs and considers other products.

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Fact Check
The statement is confirmed by detailed reports from multiple financial and crypto news outlets (PANews, Phemex, The Block) citing specific Morgan Stanley executives (Amy Oldenburg and Andrew Slimmon). The data point regarding 80% of activity being self-directed is consistently reported across these sources.
Summary

Morgan Stanley said adoption of crypto funds by financial advisors remains at an early stage, with about 80% of platform distribution coming from self-directed retail trading rather than advisor-led activity. The bank has offered spot Bitcoin ETF access in brokerage accounts since August 2024 and is considering Ethereum or Solana products. Its global investment committee has also previously suggested crypto allocations of up to 4% in some portfolios, showing that while access is widening, advisor adoption is still developing.

Terms & Concepts
  • crypto funds: Investment products that provide exposure to digital assets through regulated fund structures rather than direct cryptocurrency ownership.
  • spot Bitcoin ETF: An exchange-traded fund that holds Bitcoin directly or tracks its spot market price, giving investors Bitcoin exposure through brokerage accounts.
  • Ethereum: A blockchain network whose native asset is ether, widely used for smart contracts and decentralized applications.