In a significant step toward deeper integration of digital assets into traditional finance, Global Investment Bank Morgan Stanley has confirmed plans to offer comprehensive Bitcoin services directly to its clients.
The bank’s Head of Digital Asset, Amy Oldenburg made the announcement during a conversation with Phong Le President and CEO of Strategy, at the recent Bitcoin for Corporations conference held in Las Vegas in late February 2026.
According to Oldenburg, Morgan Stanley intends to build its own in-house technology for Bitcoin custody and trading, moving beyond the current setup where clients can access spot Bitcoin ETFs and, in some cases, limited crypto trading via the bank’s ETrade platform.
“We will definitely do it,” Oldenburg stated when addressing future plans for Bitcoin custody and trading infrastructure. She further emphasized that developing these capabilities natively is a priority, allowing clients to hold legal custody of their Bitcoin under Morgan Stanley’s regulated oversight.
While some Bitcoin holders particularly long-term advocates may prefer self-custody, Oldenburg noted that bringing assets onto the bank’s platform would unlock additional services in a trusted, institutional environment.
The ambitions don’t stop at basic custody and spot trading. When asked about Bitcoin-based yield and lending products,
“That’s part of the discussion and exploration. It’s a natural part of the roadmap to continue to explore. We’re in a very early journey on that, just in terms of the number of products that are out in the market”, Oldenburg expressed strong support.
She highlighted unexpected momentum in decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocols and related crypto-native yield opportunities this year, signaling that Morgan Stanley is closely tracking these developments as it considers similar offerings for its clients.
Morgan Stanley’s crypto journey has accelerated noticeably. Earlier phases allowed select high-net-worth clients to access spot Bitcoin ETFs. In 2025-2026, the firm expanded crypto trading access via E Trade for certain users.
The year 2026 brought the appointment of Amy Oldenburg to lead digital asset strategy, along with filings related to Bitcoin and Solana ETFs in some contexts.
Now, the bank is shifting toward full-stack, proprietary infrastructure rather than relying solely on third-party partnerships.
With nearly $9 trillion in assets under management (and trillions more in advisory relationships), Morgan Stanley’s move could expose millions of traditional investors, wealth managers, and institutions to Bitcoin in a familiar, regulated wrapper.
This development follows similar expansions by competitors such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, BNY Mellon, amongst others, that have moved aggressively into crypto infrastructure, intensifying competition across traditional finance.
Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs has built a dedicated digital assets division, offering crypto trading for institutional clients and expanding structured products tied to digital assets. The firm has also explored tokenization initiatives and blockchain-based financial instruments.
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan has developed blockchain infrastructure for institutional settlement and provides crypto-related services to large clients. The bank has also been involved in digital asset custody development and continues to expand blockchain-based financial rails.
Citigroup
Citigroup has focused on institutional crypto services, including digital asset custody frameworks and tokenization initiatives designed to integrate blockchain technology into traditional capital markets.
While still described as “early journey” for yield/lending, Oldenburg’s comments make clear that Morgan Stanley views these services as logical extensions of its digital asset roadmap.
The bank’s expansion highlights a structural shift in how major financial institutions view Bitcoin. Rather than treating digital assets as peripheral investment options, banks are building long-term infrastructure to support ownership, financing, and income generation
For the Bitcoin ecosystem, the message is clear, the world’s largest financial institutions are no longer just observing, they’re building the on-ramps.
