Morgan Stanley doubles down on crypto, files for bank charter to custody digital assets and offer staking: Bloomberg

Morgan Stanley is significantly expanding its involvement in digital assets by filing for a de novo national trust bank charter, according to a Bloomberg report. This new charter would empower the financial giant to custody digital assets and also conduct staking and trading activities for its investment clients. The application, filed by Morgan Stanley Digital Trust on February 18th with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), signals a continued shift toward a more assertive embrace of crypto, following recent moves like appointing an executive to lead digital asset strategy and plans for a proprietary digital wallet later this year. This development places Morgan Stanley alongside other firms, including crypto-native companies, that have recently sought or received conditional approval for national bank charters from the OCC.

(Source：The Block)