CMC News

E*Trade Adding $BTC, $ETH, $SOL Trading Through Zerohash Partnership

Morgan Stanley's brokerage platform will launch cryptocurrency trading in 2026's first half, marking Wall Street's expanded digital asset adoption. The initiative leverages infrastructure provider Zerohash to deliver comprehensive crypto services to E*Trade's 5.2 million users.

Clients will initially access $BTC, $ETH, and $SOL trading capabilities with potential expansion to additional digital assets. The partnership includes full wallet solutions, enabling seamless storage and management of #cryptocurrency holdings within the existing platform ecosystem.

Zerohash secured $104 million funding at a $1 billion valuation, with Interactive Brokers leading the round and Morgan Stanley participating. The infrastructure firm specializes in providing #crypto trading, tokenization, and stablecoin services to financial institutions seeking blockchain integration.

#MorganStanley acquired E*Trade in 2020 for $13 billion, transforming the discount brokerage into a key retail trading platform. The crypto rollout represents the bank's most significant direct retail venture into digital assets following previous institutional-focused initiatives.

The announcement positions E*Trade to compete directly with Robinhood, which has rapidly expanded its cryptocurrency offerings and recently acquired Bitstamp exchange for $200 million. Competition among traditional brokerages for crypto market share continues to intensify across the industry.

Morgan Stanley has gradually increased its #digital asset presence since 2024, allowing wealth advisors to promote spot #BitcoinETFs to eligible clients. CEO Ted Pick previously indicated the bank's interest in exploring transactional cryptocurrency services during the World Economic Forum.

The banking giant's strategic approach aligns with recent regulatory developments supporting stablecoin adoption.