The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted Morgan Stanley conditional approval to establish a national trust bank for digital assets. The new wholly-owned subsidiary will operate under the name Morgan Stanley Digital Trust National Association.
The entity will provide cryptocurrency custody and support client investment activities through trading and staking services. This federal charter allows the firm to build regulated infrastructure specifically for its wealth management clients.
The move positions Morgan Stanley as a primary participant in the institutional adoption of digital assets. The OCC requires the trust to maintain significant capital levels and obtain regulatory non-objection for any modifications to its business plan.