Morgan Stanley Removes Restrictions on Crypto Access, Celebrated by Michael Saylor
ByAinvest
Friday, Oct 10, 2025 1:27 pm ET2min read
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Previously, Morgan Stanley had limited cryptocurrency investments to high-net-worth individuals with an aggressive risk profile and a minimum asset threshold of $1.5 million. These clients could only invest through taxable brokerage accounts. However, starting October 15, financial advisors will be able to recommend crypto options to a broader client base, including those with less than $1.5 million in assets and different risk profiles [1].
The expanded access includes investments in Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, offered by major firms like BlackRock and Fidelity. These products allow clients to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market without directly purchasing digital currencies. This move aligns with the U.S. government’s push to open up retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, to crypto investments, which was initiated by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump [1].
Morgan Stanley’s decision to lift restrictions on cryptocurrency investments marks a significant shift in the financial industry. As crypto adoption continues to grow, major banks and wealth managers are seeking ways to meet the demand from clients interested in digital assets. Institutional investors have shown increasing interest in crypto as a long-term investment, and firms like Morgan Stanley are responding by broadening their offerings [1].
The move also comes in the wake of President Trump’s executive order in August 2024, which encouraged regulatory bodies to ease restrictions on alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies, in retirement plans like 401(k)s. The order rescinded previous guidance that discouraged crypto investments in retirement accounts, setting the stage for further changes in how retirement funds can include digital assets [1].
Morgan Stanley’s internal guidelines on crypto investments recommend clients seeking growth allocate up to 4% of their portfolios to cryptocurrency. For more conservative investors, the bank recommends lower allocations, such as 2% for balanced growth accounts. The firm has described cryptocurrency as a “speculative” and “increasingly popular” asset class, emphasizing the need for investors to regularly rebalance their portfolios to avoid overexposure [1].
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Morgan Stanley has removed all restrictions on client access to digital asset funds, allowing all wealth management clients to invest in crypto funds, starting October 15. This move is seen as a significant step toward crypto mainstream adoption and was celebrated by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor. Morgan Stanley has also enabled crypto trading via its E*Trade online brokerage platform and partnered with Zerohash to enable direct trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Starting October 15, Morgan Stanley will remove all restrictions on client access to digital asset funds, allowing all wealth management clients to invest in crypto funds. This significant move towards crypto mainstream adoption is celebrated by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor [1]. Morgan Stanley has also enabled crypto trading via its E*Trade online brokerage platform and partnered with Zerohash to facilitate direct trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana [2].Previously, Morgan Stanley had limited cryptocurrency investments to high-net-worth individuals with an aggressive risk profile and a minimum asset threshold of $1.5 million. These clients could only invest through taxable brokerage accounts. However, starting October 15, financial advisors will be able to recommend crypto options to a broader client base, including those with less than $1.5 million in assets and different risk profiles [1].
The expanded access includes investments in Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, offered by major firms like BlackRock and Fidelity. These products allow clients to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market without directly purchasing digital currencies. This move aligns with the U.S. government’s push to open up retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, to crypto investments, which was initiated by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump [1].
Morgan Stanley’s decision to lift restrictions on cryptocurrency investments marks a significant shift in the financial industry. As crypto adoption continues to grow, major banks and wealth managers are seeking ways to meet the demand from clients interested in digital assets. Institutional investors have shown increasing interest in crypto as a long-term investment, and firms like Morgan Stanley are responding by broadening their offerings [1].
The move also comes in the wake of President Trump’s executive order in August 2024, which encouraged regulatory bodies to ease restrictions on alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies, in retirement plans like 401(k)s. The order rescinded previous guidance that discouraged crypto investments in retirement accounts, setting the stage for further changes in how retirement funds can include digital assets [1].
Morgan Stanley’s internal guidelines on crypto investments recommend clients seeking growth allocate up to 4% of their portfolios to cryptocurrency. For more conservative investors, the bank recommends lower allocations, such as 2% for balanced growth accounts. The firm has described cryptocurrency as a “speculative” and “increasingly popular” asset class, emphasizing the need for investors to regularly rebalance their portfolios to avoid overexposure [1].
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