Morgan Stanley Bets on Lower-Cost ETFs

Morgan Stanley is looking to strengthen its position in the cryptocurrency ETF market by launching exchange-traded funds focused on Ethereum and Solana. The bank aims to attract investors with one of the lowest management fees in the industry.

According to filings submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the proposed ETFs will charge an annual management fee of just 0.14%. This is lower than the fees currently offered by similar products from Grayscale and Franklin Templeton, highlighting the growing price competition in the crypto ETF market.

Brian Rudick of Upexi believes issuers are no longer competing solely on the products themselves but are increasingly focused on winning investors through lower costs and better value. A similar trend has already reshaped the Bitcoin ETF market. Meanwhile, assets under management in Solana investment funds have surpassed $1 billion, adding further momentum to the competitive landscape.

The planned funds will invest directly in Ethereum and Solana. Morgan Stanley also intends to stake a portion of the cryptocurrencies held by the funds, allowing them to generate additional income through staking rewards. Asset custody will be provided by BNY and Coinbase Custody.

This is not the bank's first move in the space. In April 2026, Morgan Stanley launched its Bitcoin Trust with the same 0.14% management fee. As of July 10, 2026, the fund managed approximately $364.2 million in assets and recorded one of the strongest ETF launches in the market's history.

The Ethereum and Solana ETFs have not yet been launched. Morgan Stanley is still awaiting SEC approval and has not announced an official launch date.