Morgan Stanley Launches Ether and Solana ETPs With Staking Rewards
The Wall Street giant becomes the first major U.S. bank-affiliated asset manager to offer spot crypto ETPs that integrate staking yield from day one.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management has entered a new phase of institutional crypto adoption with the launch of two exchange-traded products that bundle exposure to Ether and Solana with built-in staking rewards.
The Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust (MSSE) and Morgan Stanley Solana Trust (MSOL) mark the first spot ETPs from a major U.S. bank-affiliated asset manager to integrate staking capabilities from inception. The products follow the firm's earlier Bitcoin Trust (MSBT), which held more than $381 million in assets under management as of July 16, 2026.
Staking Built In
The trusts will stake between 50% and 80% of their Ether holdings and up to 100% of their Solana holdings, allowing shareholders to earn yield without managing validator infrastructure or navigating the operational complexities of direct staking.
Morgan Stanley has selected Figment, a leading institutional staking provider, to operate validators for both trusts. The partnership reflects growing confidence in regulated pathways for Proof-of-Stake yield generation.
"Our job underneath is simple to describe and hard to do well: run the validators, manage the risk, report accurately, the way we have for our institutional client base across the globe," said Josh Deems, Head of Revenue at Figment.
A Regulatory Shift
The launch represents a meaningful evolution from the first wave of spot Ether ETPs that debuted in July 2024 without staking functionality. Updated SEC staff guidance and revised exchange listing standards have since opened the door for integrated staking, enabling asset managers to offer yield-bearing products within existing regulatory frameworks.
For institutional investors, the structure removes significant friction. Traditional staking requires direct custody, validator selection, and ongoing monitoring—barriers that have kept many risk-averse allocators on the sidelines. The ETP wrapper provides familiar reporting, liquidity, and compliance infrastructure.
Why It Matters
The move signals deepening institutional acceptance of Proof-of-Stake assets as yield-generating holdings rather than purely speculative instruments. By offering a bank-backed vehicle that passes staking rewards to shareholders, Morgan Stanley lowers the entry threshold for both institutional and retail investors seeking passive income from digital assets.
Analysts expect the products could increase liquidity and demand for Ether and Solana, particularly among investors who previously avoided direct staking due to operational or regulatory concerns. The structure also sets a precedent that competing asset managers are likely to follow.
The trusts trade on major U.S. exchanges and are available through Morgan Stanley's wealth management channels, extending crypto exposure to the firm's high-net-worth client base.