Morgan Stanley Taps Coinbase and BNY Mellon for Proposed Bitcoin Trust Custody
Morgan Stanley has enlisted Coinbase and BNY Mellon to handle custody and operational roles for its proposed Bitcoin Trust. BNY Mellon will serve as administrator, transfer agent and cash custodian, while Coinbase will provide digital-asset custody for the trust’s BTC holdings. The arrangement was disclosed alongside Morgan Stanley’s filing as the firm seeks to broaden client access to spot-Bitcoin exposure.
Pairing a legacy custodian with a leading crypto firm could bolster the institutional infrastructure behind the application and help address regulatory concerns around custody and cash management. For wealth managers and institutional clients, the setup may offer a familiar custody framework layered on established crypto practices, potentially strengthening confidence in Morgan Stanley’s bid and supporting broader momentum toward a spot BTC product.