# Bank-Affiliated Bitcoin ETFs Morgan Stanley Launched Its First Bitcoin ETF With MSBT By Adam Harrie | Published 2026-04-15 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Bitcoin-ETF References: [morganstanley](https://www.morganstanley.com/press-releases/msim-enters-with-launch-of-morgan-stanley-bitcoin-trust)  [Morgan Stanley Investment Management](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/morgans-message) launched a Bitcoin ETF and the'Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust' (MSBT), becoming the first US bank-affiliated asset manager to offer a publicly traded bitcoin fund. MSBT provides investors with direct exposure to Bitcoin price performance within a regulated, exchange-listed structure. It also carries the lowest fee of any comparable bitcoin fund available at launch. [Coinbase](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vast-bank) and BNY were brought onto the project to handle custody, administration and recordkeeping duties. The product is now part of Morgan Stanley's expanding fund lineup, which recently exceeded $12 billion in total assets. As major banks expand into digital assets, Morgan Stanley indicates that integrating bitcoin into a familiar, regulated investment wrapper is becoming a clear route to mainstream adoption among traditional investors. Image Credit: Shutterstock/4kclips ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 39% | Freshness: 70% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Market](https://www.trendhunter.com/market) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Bank-affiliated Bitcoin Etfs:** Institutional credibility added by bank-backed bitcoin ETFs creates scope for regulated, yield-oriented crypto products that appeal to conservative investors. - **Low-fee Crypto Funds:** A race to the bottom in management fees opens potential for scaled passive crypto vehicles that dominate retail and advisory platforms through cost leadership. - **Institutional Custody Partnerships:** Partnership arrangements between banks and crypto custodians enable integrated service stacks that combine trust-grade custody with exchange liquidity and reporting. ### Where This Applies - **Asset Management:** Traditional asset managers expanding into tokenized and blockchain-native products could redefine portfolio construction and fee models across wealth channels. - **Custodial Services:** Regulated custody providers standing behind bank-affiliated products may become critical infrastructure for institutional flows into digital assets. - **Financial Exchanges:** Exchange-listed crypto funds create opportunities for trading venues to offer new settlement, derivatives, and surveillance services tied to regulated bitcoin products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Anti-Fraud Bank Accounts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/high-security-savings-account.md) - [Millennial Nostalgia Banking Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allt-bank.md) - [Innovative Bitcoin Bourbons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bitcoin-bourbon.md) - [Embedded Lending Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adyen-launched.md) - [Investment Discovery-Focused Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/investment-discovery.md) - [Stablecoin Payment Acquiring Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mnee-pay.md) - [Peer-To-Peer Investment Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peertopeer-investment-marketplace.md) - [Bitcoin Management Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/theya-for-business.md) - [Modernized Banking Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amina-bank.md)