E-Trade Evaluates Incorporation of Cryptocurrency Trading Options

E-Trade, Morgan Stanley’s digital brokerage division, is reportedly considering the introduction of cryptocurrency trading to its services.

This potential development would position E-Trade among the top tier of established financial service providers to embrace crypto trading, as noted by The Information in a report on Thursday (Jan. 2).

According to the same report, which cited anonymous sources, E-Trade is pursuing crypto offerings with the expectation that President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will adopt a more crypto-friendly regulatory stance.

When contacted by PYMNTS, Morgan Stanley offered no official statement regarding the report.

As a bank holding company, Morgan Stanley is regulated by the Federal Reserve. Consequently, any action by E-Trade to integrate crypto trading services would necessitate the consent of the Fed alongside other regulatory bodies, as per the report’s disclosures.

This news coincides with revelations that companies managing exchange-traded funds have lodged over a dozen proposals with the Securities and Exchange Commission, seeking permission to launch crypto-focused ETFs in 2025.

Bloomberg Intelligence’s Athanasios Psarofagis indicated in a Bloomberg report that “2025 will be a significant year for such launches, as firms capitalize on the prevailing market interest in crypto.

Moreover, the cryptocurrency platform Coinbase enhanced its subscription package, Coinbase One, by introducing a new tier called Coinbase One Premium in December. They claimed the enhancements mean “Coinbase One now caters comprehensively to the spectrum of crypto traders.”

Coinbase One Premium members receive a multitude of benefits including unrestricted zero-fee trading, boosted USDC rewards, a 25% saving on unlimited Coinbase Advance spot fees, a $250,000 insurance against unauthorized account access, free transactions on Base, exclusive partner deals, and dedicated concierge service access.

Additionally, digital asset services provider BitGo launched a specialized platform for retail consumers in December, positioning itself as a secure and dedicated entry point for retail customers interested in cryptocurrency trading, staking, wallet services, and qualified custody options.

“With a primary focus on safety and a native cryptocurrency experience, we’re thrilled to be the go-to platform for retail investors,” said BitGo CEO Mike Belshe in a statement on Dec. 2, indicating the company’s commitment to improving the investment landscape for users worldwide.