Morgan Stanley’s E*TRADE launches spot crypto trading through Zero Hash
Eligible E*TRADE retail clients can now buy, sell and hold Bitcoin, Ether and Solana through a partnership with crypto infrastructure provider Zero Hash.
Morgan Stanley's E\*TRADE platform has launched spot cryptocurrency trading for eligible retail clients, enabling them to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Solana (SOL) directly through the platform. The service is powered by Zero Hash, a regulated crypto infrastructure provider that handles the backend settlement and custody operations for the new offering.
The move marks a significant step for E\*TRADE, one of the United States' largest retail brokerage platforms, which has historically focused on traditional equities, options, and fixed-income products. Zero Hash, which already provides crypto infrastructure to a range of fintech and financial institutions, serves as the underlying rails for the integration, allowing E\*TRADE to offer crypto exposure without building proprietary custody or settlement systems from scratch.
The launch reflects a broader trend of established financial institutions deepening their involvement in digital assets, particularly following the approval of spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs in the United States. By offering direct spot trading rather than ETF-wrapped exposure, E\*TRADE is positioning itself to compete with crypto-native platforms on a more level footing, potentially attracting retail investors who prefer holding actual assets over fund-based products.
Observers will be watching whether E\*TRADE expands its supported asset list beyond the initial three cryptocurrencies, and how the platform's compliance framework evolves alongside ongoing regulatory developments in the United States digital asset space.
Source: Cointelegraph
