Morgan Stanley, a leading global financial institution, has taken a significant step into the cryptocurrency sector by filing a request with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a crypto-focused national trust bank. This application was officially recorded on February 18, 2026, under the proposed name Morgan Stanley Digital Trust National Association, which would be headquartered in Purchase, New York, the firm”s main location.
The application indicates a robust institutional commitment to expanding into regulated digital asset trust and custody services. According to OCC documentation, it is categorized as a new national charter for a trust bank utilizing a holding company structure. The OCC has confirmed its receipt of this application and has opened a comment period that will close on March 20.
This move highlights Morgan Stanley”s ongoing efforts to deepen its involvement in the crypto market. Recently, the firm also submitted applications for crypto ETFs, aiming to offer exposure to major digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Additionally, the company is in the process of launching a crypto wallet for asset custody and tokenization.
Moreover, Morgan Stanley plans to introduce crypto trading for its E-trade clients within the current year, beginning with the aforementioned cryptocurrencies. Wealth management clients already have access to Bitcoin investments through available crypto ETFs, further illustrating the firm”s strategic pivot toward digital currencies.
With its recent trust charter application, Morgan Stanley joins several other entities in the crypto space aiming to establish national trust banks. Notably, Ripple, Circle, and Crypto.com have received conditional approvals for their own trust charter applications. Meanwhile, other prominent firms like Coinbase and World Liberty Financial (WLFI), associated with former President Donald Trump, are still awaiting decisions regarding their trust charter submissions.
As the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies evolves, Morgan Stanley”s application could signify a pivotal moment for institutional adoption of digital assets, potentially setting the stage for a more structured and compliant approach to crypto investing and custody.
