Key Takeaways
- • Morgan Stanley Investment Management launched Ethereum (MSSE) and Solana (MSOL) exchange-traded products on NYSE Arca on Tuesday with expense ratios of 0.14%, positioning them as the lowest-fee offerings in their respective markets.
- • Both ETPs will stake a portion of underlying assets and distribute staking rewards directly to investors, with Morgan Stanley retaining no share of the yield—allowing investors to capture network returns alongside price appreciation.
- • The launches represent a natural expansion of Morgan Stanley's digital asset platform, which now includes the Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) launched earlier in 2026 and has grown to $14 billion in assets across 22 products since 2023.
- • MSBT held more than $381 million in assets under management through July 16, 2026, establishing institutional traction for the bank's cryptocurrency product ecosystem.
- • The moves underscore institutional acceptance of digital assets as core portfolio components, with leadership citing their integration into diversified investment strategies.
Summary
Morgan Stanley Investment Management expanded its cryptocurrency product suite on Tuesday with the launch of two spot exchange-traded products tracking Ethereum and Solana at competitively low fee structures. The Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust (MSSE) and Morgan Stanley Solana Trust (MSOL) began trading on NYSE Arca, each carrying an annual expense ratio of 0.14%—the lowest available in their respective product categories. The ETPs track ether and SOL through CoinDesk's 4 p.m. New York settlement benchmarks, providing transparent pricing for institutional and retail investors.
A distinguishing feature of both offerings is their integrated staking mechanism. Rather than keeping staking rewards generated from underlying assets, Morgan Stanley has committed to distributing all such yields directly to fund holders. This structure allows investors to capture network-generated returns alongside traditional price exposure, enhancing total return potential without fee dilution—a meaningful advantage for long-term holders of proof-of-stake assets.
These launches follow Morgan Stanley's earlier introduction of the Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) earlier in 2026, solidifying the firm's position as the first U.S. bank-affiliated asset manager to offer a comprehensive cryptocurrency ETP lineup. MSBT had accumulated more than $381 million in assets under management through July 16, demonstrating institutional appetite for bank-sponsored digital asset products. The broader Morgan Stanley ETF and ETP platform has grown to $14 billion in assets across 22 products since 2023, reflecting sustained institutional demand.
Ally Wallace, global head of ETFs at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, characterized the Ethereum and Solana additions as a "natural evolution" of the firm's strategy to provide simplified, institutional-grade access to digital assets. Amy Oldenburg, head of digital asset strategy at Morgan Stanley, underscored that digital assets are increasingly becoming material components of diversified portfolios. The 0.14% fee structure directly challenges competing offerings, signaling competitive pricing discipline in the expanding institutional crypto ETP market.
A distinguishing feature of both offerings is their integrated staking mechanism. Rather than keeping staking rewards generated from underlying assets, Morgan Stanley has committed to distributing all such yields directly to fund holders. This structure allows investors to capture network-generated returns alongside traditional price exposure, enhancing total return potential without fee dilution—a meaningful advantage for long-term holders of proof-of-stake assets.
These launches follow Morgan Stanley's earlier introduction of the Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) earlier in 2026, solidifying the firm's position as the first U.S. bank-affiliated asset manager to offer a comprehensive cryptocurrency ETP lineup. MSBT had accumulated more than $381 million in assets under management through July 16, demonstrating institutional appetite for bank-sponsored digital asset products. The broader Morgan Stanley ETF and ETP platform has grown to $14 billion in assets across 22 products since 2023, reflecting sustained institutional demand.
Ally Wallace, global head of ETFs at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, characterized the Ethereum and Solana additions as a "natural evolution" of the firm's strategy to provide simplified, institutional-grade access to digital assets. Amy Oldenburg, head of digital asset strategy at Morgan Stanley, underscored that digital assets are increasingly becoming material components of diversified portfolios. The 0.14% fee structure directly challenges competing offerings, signaling competitive pricing discipline in the expanding institutional crypto ETP market.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.