Morgan Stanley will allow all wealth-management clients to access Bitcoin funds from BlackRock and Fidelity beginning Oct. 15, 2025, with automated allocation caps to limit exposure; advisers can initially add these funds to IRAs and 401(k)s while the firm reviews additional crypto products.
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Morgan Stanley opens Bitcoin funds to all clients on Oct. 15, 2025.
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Advisers can add BlackRock and Fidelity Bitcoin funds to IRAs and 401(k)s; other products under review.
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Retirement assets provide large potential inflows: US IRAs ~$18T, 401(k)s ~$9.3T (Investment Company Institute).
Morgan Stanley crypto policy: Morgan Stanley opens Bitcoin funds to all clients from Oct 15, 2025, with allocation caps and IRA/401(k) access — learn key limits and next steps.
Morgan Stanley’s wealth-management arm will permit all clients to access Bitcoin funds from BlackRock and Fidelity starting Oct. 15, 2025, using automated caps to limit crypto exposure while it evaluates broader product expansion.
Morgan Stanley, one of the world’s largest wealth managers, notified advisers that beginning Oct. 15, 2025, client access to approved cryptocurrency funds will expand beyond ultra-high-net-worth investors, enabling broader inclusion in retirement and taxable accounts. This change marks a notable shift in institutional adoption of digital assets.
Advisers will be able to recommend the approved Bitcoin funds for IRAs and 401(k) accounts, subject to automated allocation controls designed to prevent excessive exposure. Previously, access had been restricted to investors with more than $1.5 million in assets and a high-risk profile.
Morgan Stanley GIC guidelines for maximum crypto allocations in investment portfolios. Source: Hunter Horsley
What is Morgan Stanley’s new crypto policy?
Morgan Stanley crypto policy expands client access to approved Bitcoin funds on Oct. 15, 2025 and enforces automated allocation caps. The policy allows advisers to add BlackRock and Fidelity Bitcoin funds to IRAs and 401(k)s while the firm monitors additional products for future inclusion.
How will advisers offer Bitcoin funds to IRA and 401(k) clients?
Advisers follow a four-step process: suitability review, automated cap application, selection of an approved Bitcoin fund (BlackRock or Fidelity), and ongoing monitoring. The firm’s automated systems will enforce limits aligned with Global Investment Committee guidance to reduce concentration risk.
Why does Morgan Stanley cap allocations and start with Bitcoin funds?
Allocations are capped to protect retirement savings and reduce volatility in client portfolios. Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee recommended conservative exposure ranges—up to 4% in high-risk opportunistic portfolios and 2% in balanced growth—reflecting a cautious, data-driven approach to digital assets.
Crypto in wealth management: what this means for retirement assets
Opening access to approved Bitcoin funds could mobilize a small portion of the large pool of US retirement assets into digital assets. The Investment Company Institute reports US retirement assets at about $45.8 trillion (IRAs ~$18 trillion, 401(k)s ~$9.3 trillion), indicating material potential flows if advisors incorporate crypto exposure prudently.
Major asset managers have been expanding crypto access: Fidelity offers near-zero-fee retirement crypto accounts, and BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF has been a significant revenue generator, reportedly earning $245 million in fees in the past year. Institutions are increasingly treating digital assets as an investable asset class rather than pure speculation, according to industry commentators including SEI Labs co-founder Jeff Feng.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to invest in these Bitcoin funds at Morgan Stanley?
All Morgan Stanley wealth-management clients will be eligible to access the approved Bitcoin funds starting Oct. 15, 2025, with suitability checks and automated exposure limits applied by advisers.
Will Morgan Stanley offer other cryptocurrencies or funds?
Initially the firm will permit only approved Bitcoin funds managed by BlackRock and Fidelity. Morgan Stanley is monitoring the market for additional crypto products and may expand offerings after further review.
Key Takeaways
- Broader access: Morgan Stanley will let all wealth clients access approved Bitcoin funds from Oct. 15, 2025.
- Risk controls: Automated allocation caps enforce conservative exposure aligned with Global Investment Committee guidance.
- Retirement impact: Approval for IRAs and 401(k)s could redirect a portion of the $45.8T retirement asset pool into digital assets over time.
Conclusion
Morgan Stanley’s policy change brings institutional risk controls to client-level crypto access, starting with Bitcoin funds from BlackRock and Fidelity and allowing use in IRAs and 401(k)s. The move signals growing mainstream acceptance of digital assets while prioritizing capital preservation through automated caps. Advisers should assess suitability and monitor developments as the firm evaluates broader crypto product inclusion.
