Morgan Stanley has submitted a registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a spot Ethereum Trust.
This filing, which aims to create an exchange-traded fund directly holding Ethereum (ETH), comes shortly after the bank’s applications for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs.
With Wall Street accelerating the embrace of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, the bank’s application with the SEC points to a deepening commitment to digital assets.
Morgan Stanley eyes spot Ethereum ETF: What it means
Morgan Stanley, one of the world’s largest wealth managers, previously lifted restrictions related to crypto in October 2025.
This is when the bank moved to allow its financial advisors to recommend spot crypto ETFs to clients, a policy shift that showed greater client interest.
Other banking giants have taken this step as investors look to diversify their portfolios.
According to market experts, this ETF registration marks a pivotal advancement as crypto ETFs record fresh demand in 2026.
The renewed institutional confidence is visible as the market witnesses a flip following a volatile period that saw US spot Bitcoin ETFs notch billions in net outflows.
On January 6, 2025, SoSoValue data showed Bitcoin saw net outflows of $243 million.
Only BlackRock’s IBIT ETF netted net inflows. However, Monday had seen over $697 million in net inflows, the highest single-day figure for BTC since early October.
Elsewhere, Ethereum spot ETFs saw $115 million in daily net inflows, the third consecutive day of positive flows.
The market also had inflows for Solana and XRP spot ETFs, recorded at $9.22 million and $19.12 million, respectively.
Although Bitcoin and Ethereum funds faced outflows during a challenging Q4 2025, exacerbated by price corrections, institutional momentum appears to be rebounding strongly.
In this case, market analysts view Morgan Stanley’s action as a potential turning point.
ETF expert Nate Geraci noted on X:
Back in October, Morgan Stanley dropped restrictions on financial advisors recommending crypto ETFs… Now launching their own. Makes sense given Morgan’s massive distribution. Clearly, they were seeing meaningful demand from clients for crypto ETFs.
With its extensive client base and distribution network, the bank’s proprietary ETF could accelerate mainstream adoption.
Crypto analyst Lark Davis pointed out on X:
Ethereum price outlook
As of writing on January 7, 2026, Ethereum traded around $3,190.
The altcoin was down nearly 3% after pulling back from highs of $3,301. Price may fall to $3k or lower, but bulls remain upbeat amid potential institutional accumulation.
Milestones, such as a record $8 trillion in stablecoin volume in Q4, add to the bullish outlook.
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