US financial giant Morgan Stanley has made noteworthy assessments regarding the future of crypto assets.
Amy Oldenburg, the company’s Head of Digital Asset Strategy, detailed the firm’s crypto approach and 2026 vision in an interview.
It was first stated that tokenization is not the ultimate goal, but rather the foundation of larger financial structures. According to Oldenburg, simply moving assets to the blockchain is not enough; real value will be created by 24/7 markets, faster collateral movement, programmable financial products, and the emergence of next-generation financial workflows. In this process, it was argued that the financial system will not only integrate crypto but will also be reshaped around a crypto infrastructure over time.
Secondly, it was noted that institutional companies are now adopting public networks instead of private blockchains. Networks like Ethereum and Solana, in particular, have become common ground for stablecoins, tokenized stocks, and real-world assets (RWA). This shift means that institutions are choosing to integrate into the existing blockchain ecosystem rather than building their own infrastructure.
The third point states that asset managers are beginning to view cryptocurrencies not just as an investment product, but as an integral part of portfolio construction. Morgan Stanley’s MSBT ETF, launched on April 8, 2026, stands out as a concrete example of this transformation, while the company is also developing new products in areas such as altcoin access, direct trading, yield-focused products, and DeFi solutions. However, it is noted that this expansion is progressing gradually due to regulatory and infrastructure limitations.
Fourthly, the prediction that investors will own crypto wallets directly in the future attracted attention. Oldenburg stated that Morgan Stanley clients will be able to hold tokenized assets directly in their own wallets in the future. With this model, investment portfolios will not be limited to in-house systems, but will become portable across different networks and interact with smart contracts.
Finally, it was noted that digital assets are now beginning to be seen as a fundamental infrastructure of the financial system. Morgan Stanley is said to have moved crypto from the research phase to integrating it into its core business lines such as institutional securities, asset management, and wealth management.
*This is not investment advice.
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