Morgan Stanley has approached the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a trusted bank for digital assets.
According to a document published on February 27, the proposed Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, National Association (MSDTNA) will operate as a nationally incorporated trust bank focused on crypto asset custody services.
The trust bank, which is wholly owned by Morgan Stanley Capital Management, plans to hold digital assets on behalf of clients and perform related activities such as buying, selling, exchanging and transferring tokens to support investment strategies. The organization also facilitates services on a fiduciary basis.
The management team draws from existing Morgan Stanley banking affiliates. John Ryan will serve as chairman and chief executive officer of the new bank trust, with Chad Turner as president and Amanda Kahn as chief operating officer.
Morgan Stanley’s wealth management arm, backed by the trust bank, has seen significant crypto holdings among its client base that currently reside outside of the firm’s platforms. A new entity can incorporate these assets within a regulated entity.
Major U.S. financial institutions have accelerated efforts to build adequate infrastructure to service digital assets amid a favorable regulatory environment under President Trump. Competitors including BNY Mellon and State Street have also pursued crypto storage capabilities.
Morgan Stanley is exploring Bitcoin lending and derivatives as part of its digital asset roadmap. The bank plans to allow E*Trade customers to trade spot crypto ahead of the launch of its own custody and exchange platform.
According to Amy Oldenburg, Morgan Stanley’s head of digital assets, the bank aims to build internal infrastructure and reduce reliance on third-party technologies.
The program comes as Morgan Stanley expands its digital assets division.
A LinkedIn job listing reported by GSR chief content officer Frank Chaparro shows the company is hiring for leadership roles such as digital asset strategy and portfolio activation and management. Promotion in New York.
Recruiting efforts also emphasize regulatory and operational depth with positions including Chief Compliance Officer in Dallas and Director of Operations Strategy in New York, roles that support the regulatory framework.
Morgan Stanley is hiring for dozens of crypto roles while opening pipelines.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF ($BTC) is now available on the Morgan Stanley platform, opening access to over $7.4T in advisor AUM.
2026 will be explosive for crypto. pic.twitter.com/pXuCvpOkuq
— Frank Chaparro (@fintechfrank) January 27, 2026
