Morgan Stanley expands its crypto lineup: launches trusts for Ethereum and Solana
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has taken another step in the institutional integration of digital assets by launching two new exchange-traded products — trusts for Ethereum and Solana. Trading under the tickers MSSE and MSOL began on the NYSE Arca platform. These instruments track the performance of the underlying assets — ETH and SOL — via CoinDesk indices.
Launch Details and Fee Policy
Both trusts partially allocate their assets to staking, with all generated income fully passed through to holders — MSIM retains no share of the rewards. The fee for each product is only 0.14%, which the company states is part of a competitive strategy in the digital asset segment. MSSE is based on the ether reference rate as of 4:00 PM New York time, while MSOL follows a similar rate for Solana.
This expansion follows the launch of a bitcoin trust earlier this year, which was MSIM's first crypto product under the management of a U.S. bank. By July 16, 2026, it had over $381 million in assets under management. Now, the company offers instruments for three leading digital assets: bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
Strategic Rationale and Scale
MSIM's management explains this move as a response to growing client demand. Head of ETF Strategy Ellie Wallace emphasized that adding the two trusts was a natural evolution of the product line, which has grown since 2023 to over $14 billion across 22 products. The goal is to simplify investor access to digital assets through a familiar exchange-traded structure.
Amy Oldenburg, Head of Digital Asset Strategy, noted that client interest is rising, and the company aims to help them allocate investments between traditional and decentralized assets. MSIM also highlights compliance with Morgan Stanley's internal standards for governance, infrastructure, and risk control. The company's position in this market is reinforced by its scale: over 1,300 investment professionals and approximately $2 trillion in assets under management and supervision.
Analyst Comment: The launch of Ethereum and Solana trusts by Morgan Stanley is not just a product line expansion but a clear signal to the market. The fact that the company included staking with full income return to holders indicates a deep understanding of Proof-of-Stake network specifics. This enhances the appeal of these products for institutional investors seeking not only price exposure but also additional yield. I expect to see similar moves from other major asset managers in the coming months.