Morgan Stanley Launches Bitcoin ETF with Low Fees
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 08 2026
0mins
Should l Buy MS?
Source: seekingalpha
- ETF Launch: Morgan Stanley has launched its Bitcoin ETF, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT), on the NYSE with a low fee of just 0.14%, positioning itself competitively against major players like BlackRock.
- Market Performance: Since its debut, MSBT's price has reached approximately $20.49, with a daily gain of 2.45%, and with half the trading day left, it has already achieved around $27 million in volume, potentially nearing $50 million, which would place it among the top 1% of ETF launches.
- Bitcoin Reaction: Bitcoin's price has increased by about 5% in the past 24 hours, trading near $71,000, indicating strong investor interest in the new ETF, while trading volume surged by approximately 60% to $54.42 billion.
- Morgan Stanley Stock Surge: Morgan Stanley's stock has risen about 4.14%, breaking above its recent range of $168–$170, with potential upside of 10–18% if the trend continues, reflecting positive market sentiment towards its Bitcoin ETF.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy MS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on MS
Wall Street analysts forecast MS stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 183.340
Low
132.00
Averages
185.00
High
219.00
Current: 183.340
Low
132.00
Averages
185.00
High
219.00
About MS
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services company. The Company is engaged in providing a range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. Its segments include Institutional Securities, Wealth Management and Investment Management. Its Institutional Securities segment provides a variety of products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions and ultra-high net worth clients. Its Wealth Management segment provides an array of financial services and solutions to individual investors and small to medium-sized businesses and institutions. Its Investment Management segment provides a range of investment strategies and products that span geographies, asset classes, and public and private markets to a diverse group of clients across institutional and intermediary channels. Its investment banking services consist of capital raising and financial advisory services, including the underwriting of debt and other products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Inflation and Private Credit Risks Intensify
- Strong Market Performance: Despite recession fears and consumer pessimism, the S&P 500 has risen nearly 30% over the past year, demonstrating market resilience and investor confidence; however, this optimism may be threatened by emerging risks.
- Rising Private Credit Risks: With increasing default rates in private credit, firms like Morgan Stanley and Blackstone have restricted investor withdrawals from their private credit funds, which could lead to liquidity crises and impact shareholder interests, highlighting vulnerabilities in the financial markets.
- Escalating Inflation Pressure: U.S. inflation surged from 2.4% to 3.3%, driven by rising oil and gas prices, which may not have been factored into private lending models, increasing the risk of borrower defaults and destabilizing related industries.
- Caution for Investors: Given the potential spread of inflation and private credit issues into the financial sector, investors should exercise caution when purchasing financial stocks or stocks of businesses vulnerable to inflation to avoid potential investment losses.
See More
Trump's Comments Impact Stock Market Volatility
- Market Fluctuation: The Dow Jones index slipped in mixed trading on Wednesday, reflecting investor reactions to President Trump's latest comments on U.S.-Iran peace talks, indicating market sensitivity to political factors.
- Investor Sentiment: Trump's remarks triggered uncertainty in the market, leading investors to adopt a cautious approach in trading, which could impact short-term investment decisions and market liquidity.
- Economic Outlook Concerns: The uncertainty surrounding political situations may affect market expectations for future economic growth, particularly in the context of strained international relations, prompting investors to reassess risks.
- Volume Changes: Following Trump's statements, market trading volumes experienced fluctuations, indicating a heightened investor focus on future policy directions, which could influence subsequent market trends.
See More
Tech Stocks Rebound, Nvidia on 11-Day Winning Streak
- Nvidia's Strong Performance: Nvidia shares rose about 1% as investors returned to tech stocks, positioning the company for an 11th consecutive winning session, marking the longest streak on record and reflecting renewed market confidence in the tech sector.
- Caterpillar Acquisition News: Caterpillar's stock dropped approximately 5% following reports of its acquisition of Monarch Tractor, a self-driving electric tractor company, which, while pressuring short-term stock performance, may enhance its competitive edge in the automated agricultural equipment market.
- Nike Insider Transactions: Nike shares advanced over 3% after CEO Elliott Hill and director Tim Cook disclosed purchases of over 23,000 and 25,000 shares, respectively, totaling around $2.1 million, indicating strong executive confidence in the company's future and potentially attracting more investor interest.
- DoorDash's Technological Outlook: DoorDash shares surged 8% after Barclays analysts highlighted its leadership in autonomous food delivery technology, which is expected to further drive market share growth and strengthen its competitive position in the industry.
See More
Morgan Stanley Reports Record Q1 2026 Earnings Driven by Wealth Management and Markets
- Record Financial Performance: Morgan Stanley achieved record revenues of $20.6 billion and EPS of $3.43 in Q1 2026, showcasing the firm's robust performance during active market periods, which further solidifies its leadership position in the financial services industry.
- Wealth Management Growth: The firm reported $118 billion in net new assets and $54 billion in fee-based flows in Wealth Management, indicating strong client demand for its services while pushing total client assets to exceed $9 trillion, on the path to reaching $10 trillion.
- Capital Adequacy Advantage: Morgan Stanley's CET1 ratio stands at 15.1%, significantly above the regulatory requirement of 11.8%, providing a capital buffer of over 300 basis points, demonstrating the firm's solid capital positioning amid enhanced regulatory transparency.
- Strategic Investments and Innovations: The company completed the acquisition of EquityZen and launched a digital asset pilot through its partnership with Zero Hash, enabling clients to trade major digital currencies via E*TRADE, further expanding its footprint in the digital finance space.
See More
US Stocks Show Mixed Movement Amid Optimism Over Middle East Peace Talks
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index rose by 0.36%, reaching a two-month high, while the Nasdaq 100 increased by 0.63%, marking a 2.5-month high, reflecting investor optimism surrounding potential peace talks in the Middle East.
- Economic Data: The April Empire Manufacturing Survey reported a rise of 11.2 in the general business conditions index to 11.0, surpassing expectations, indicating a robust manufacturing recovery; however, the April NAHB housing market index fell to 34, signaling weakness in the housing sector that could dampen investor confidence.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 1% due to the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, impacting profitability in related sectors.
- Earnings Season: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to grow by 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, growth is only expected to be around 3%, indicating a slowdown in overall earnings growth that may affect market sentiment.
See More
Strong Bank Profits Driven by Market Volatility
- Trading Revenue Surge: Bank of America reported first-quarter stock trading revenues of $2.8 billion, a 30% increase year-over-year, while Morgan Stanley's equity trading revenues rose 25% to $5.15 billion, indicating substantial profits driven by market volatility.
- Morgan Stanley's Record Performance: Morgan Stanley achieved a net income of $5.6 billion and earnings per share of $3.43, both up 30% from last year, reflecting strong performance in bond trading and investment banking, with advisory revenues nearly doubling.
- Robust Consumer Banking: Bank of America's consumer banking segment posted a profit of $3.1 billion, with deposits and loans growing, and customers spending 7% more on credit and debit cards compared to last year, indicating strong consumer confidence.
- Risk Monitoring and Market Outlook: Despite strong quarterly results, Bank of America’s CEO expressed caution regarding geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine, emphasizing that the unemployment rate remains at 4.3%, which supports consumer spending.
See More
Inflation and Private Credit Risks Intensify
- Strong Market Performance: Despite recession fears and consumer pessimism, the S&P 500 has risen nearly 30% over the past year, demonstrating market resilience and investor confidence; however, this optimism may be threatened by emerging risks.
- Rising Private Credit Risks: With increasing default rates in private credit, firms like Morgan Stanley and Blackstone have restricted investor withdrawals from their private credit funds, which could lead to liquidity crises and impact shareholder interests, highlighting vulnerabilities in the financial markets.
- Escalating Inflation Pressure: U.S. inflation surged from 2.4% to 3.3%, driven by rising oil and gas prices, which may not have been factored into private lending models, increasing the risk of borrower defaults and destabilizing related industries.
- Caution for Investors: Given the potential spread of inflation and private credit issues into the financial sector, investors should exercise caution when purchasing financial stocks or stocks of businesses vulnerable to inflation to avoid potential investment losses.
See More
Trump's Comments Impact Stock Market Volatility
- Market Fluctuation: The Dow Jones index slipped in mixed trading on Wednesday, reflecting investor reactions to President Trump's latest comments on U.S.-Iran peace talks, indicating market sensitivity to political factors.
- Investor Sentiment: Trump's remarks triggered uncertainty in the market, leading investors to adopt a cautious approach in trading, which could impact short-term investment decisions and market liquidity.
- Economic Outlook Concerns: The uncertainty surrounding political situations may affect market expectations for future economic growth, particularly in the context of strained international relations, prompting investors to reassess risks.
- Volume Changes: Following Trump's statements, market trading volumes experienced fluctuations, indicating a heightened investor focus on future policy directions, which could influence subsequent market trends.
See More
Tech Stocks Rebound, Nvidia on 11-Day Winning Streak
- Nvidia's Strong Performance: Nvidia shares rose about 1% as investors returned to tech stocks, positioning the company for an 11th consecutive winning session, marking the longest streak on record and reflecting renewed market confidence in the tech sector.
- Caterpillar Acquisition News: Caterpillar's stock dropped approximately 5% following reports of its acquisition of Monarch Tractor, a self-driving electric tractor company, which, while pressuring short-term stock performance, may enhance its competitive edge in the automated agricultural equipment market.
- Nike Insider Transactions: Nike shares advanced over 3% after CEO Elliott Hill and director Tim Cook disclosed purchases of over 23,000 and 25,000 shares, respectively, totaling around $2.1 million, indicating strong executive confidence in the company's future and potentially attracting more investor interest.
- DoorDash's Technological Outlook: DoorDash shares surged 8% after Barclays analysts highlighted its leadership in autonomous food delivery technology, which is expected to further drive market share growth and strengthen its competitive position in the industry.
See More
Morgan Stanley Reports Record Q1 2026 Earnings Driven by Wealth Management and Markets
- Record Financial Performance: Morgan Stanley achieved record revenues of $20.6 billion and EPS of $3.43 in Q1 2026, showcasing the firm's robust performance during active market periods, which further solidifies its leadership position in the financial services industry.
- Wealth Management Growth: The firm reported $118 billion in net new assets and $54 billion in fee-based flows in Wealth Management, indicating strong client demand for its services while pushing total client assets to exceed $9 trillion, on the path to reaching $10 trillion.
- Capital Adequacy Advantage: Morgan Stanley's CET1 ratio stands at 15.1%, significantly above the regulatory requirement of 11.8%, providing a capital buffer of over 300 basis points, demonstrating the firm's solid capital positioning amid enhanced regulatory transparency.
- Strategic Investments and Innovations: The company completed the acquisition of EquityZen and launched a digital asset pilot through its partnership with Zero Hash, enabling clients to trade major digital currencies via E*TRADE, further expanding its footprint in the digital finance space.
See More
US Stocks Show Mixed Movement Amid Optimism Over Middle East Peace Talks
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index rose by 0.36%, reaching a two-month high, while the Nasdaq 100 increased by 0.63%, marking a 2.5-month high, reflecting investor optimism surrounding potential peace talks in the Middle East.
- Economic Data: The April Empire Manufacturing Survey reported a rise of 11.2 in the general business conditions index to 11.0, surpassing expectations, indicating a robust manufacturing recovery; however, the April NAHB housing market index fell to 34, signaling weakness in the housing sector that could dampen investor confidence.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 1% due to the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, impacting profitability in related sectors.
- Earnings Season: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to grow by 12% year-over-year, but excluding the technology sector, growth is only expected to be around 3%, indicating a slowdown in overall earnings growth that may affect market sentiment.
See More
Strong Bank Profits Driven by Market Volatility
- Trading Revenue Surge: Bank of America reported first-quarter stock trading revenues of $2.8 billion, a 30% increase year-over-year, while Morgan Stanley's equity trading revenues rose 25% to $5.15 billion, indicating substantial profits driven by market volatility.
- Morgan Stanley's Record Performance: Morgan Stanley achieved a net income of $5.6 billion and earnings per share of $3.43, both up 30% from last year, reflecting strong performance in bond trading and investment banking, with advisory revenues nearly doubling.
- Robust Consumer Banking: Bank of America's consumer banking segment posted a profit of $3.1 billion, with deposits and loans growing, and customers spending 7% more on credit and debit cards compared to last year, indicating strong consumer confidence.
- Risk Monitoring and Market Outlook: Despite strong quarterly results, Bank of America’s CEO expressed caution regarding geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine, emphasizing that the unemployment rate remains at 4.3%, which supports consumer spending.
See More
