The investment bank has expanded its exposure to multiple cryptocurrency-related exchange-traded funds in the second quarter, according to a recent SEC filing.
Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) by 23%, raising its stake to 16.5 million shares. The firm also boosted its position in the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) by 202%, acquiring 4.6 million shares. These moves reflect a broader strategy to deepen engagement with digital assets through diversified ETF exposure.
Holdings in Grayscale’s Ethereum Staking Mini ETF (ETH) rose 26% to 5.1 million shares, while investments in Grayscale’s Solana Staking ETF (GSOL) and Fidelity’s Solana Fund (FSOL) reached $4.25 million and $2.26 million, respectively. Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) holdings stood at 2.57 million shares, valued at $43.3 million.
The bank’s increased stake in Circle Internet Group (CRCL), owner of the USDC stablecoin, rose sharply to 8.32 million shares from 1.46 million. This follows a broader trend of institutional investors bolstering positions in stablecoin infrastructure.
Conversely, Morgan Stanley reduced or exited holdings in several crypto-linked firms, including Coinbase (COIN), CleanSpark (CLSK), and Bitfarms (BITF), reflecting a selective approach to portfolio adjustments. Mining companies such as Cipher Digital (CIFR), Core Scientific (CORZ), Hut 8 (HUT), and Bitdeer Technologies (BTDR) saw their holdings increased.
Written by Oliver Grant
Markets Desk
