Morgan Stanley Eyes Tokenized Funds After Bitcoin ETF Debut

Following the launch of its spot Bitcoin ETF, Morgan Stanley is actively expanding its digital asset strategy to include tokenized money-market funds. Amy Oldenburg, the firm's head of digital-asset strategy, confirmed that the bank views its initial Bitcoin product as a foundational step toward broader blockchain-based offerings. The firm is specifically evaluating tokenized funds backed by short-term government securities, a sector currently dominated by BlackRock’s $2.3 billion BUIDL fund and Franklin Templeton’s pioneering model. Beyond money-market instruments, Morgan Stanley is exploring the application of tax-loss harvesting strategies to digital assets through its subsidiary, Parametric. This shift signals a growing institutional appetite for programmable, yield-bearing assets that offer greater tax efficiency for investors. By prioritizing product efficiency over immediate fee maximization, as evidenced by its competitive 0.14% expense ratio on its Bitcoin ETF, the bank is positioning itself to capture market share in the evolving RWA landscape. This move underscores a broader industry trend where major financial institutions are transitioning from simple crypto-exposure products to complex, tokenized financial instruments.