Morgan Stanley wealth clients can now lend Bitcoin for ETP shares

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management has partnered with Galaxy Digital on a referral program that enables eligible clients to lend cryptocurrency in exchange for shares of spot crypto ETPs, including the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust. The offering is intended to help clients integrate digital assets into traditional investment portfolios more efficiently.

Through the arrangement, Morgan Stanley will educate clients about digital assets and connect interested investors with Galaxy. The program provides a regulated pathway for converting crypto holdings into investment products that can be held alongside other portfolio assets.

Clients participating in the program can lend cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana to Galaxy. Galaxy then facilitates the creation and delivery of ETP shares once the transaction can be settled through the approved structure.

The firms expect the new process to significantly reduce onboarding delays. While similar transactions currently require more than a month to complete, onboarding times could fall by up to 75% under the new model.

Access is also being expanded. Galaxy will lower its lending minimum for Morgan Stanley-referred clients from $25 million to $5 million, making the service available to a broader group of qualified investors.