Morgan Stanley is advancing plans to launch a digital wallet for tokenised real world assets, with a rollout targeted for late 2026 as the bank deepens its push into blockchain based financial infrastructure. The wallet is designed for institutional investors and high net worth clients and is expected to support custody services alongside limited transaction functionality for assets represented on distributed ledger networks. Rather than focusing on direct exposure to volatile cryptocurrencies, the initiative centers on regulated digital representations of traditional assets such as private equity, real estate, and collectibles. By prioritizing tokenised assets, the strategy reflects growing demand from sophisticated investors for blockchain efficiency without abandoning familiar regulatory and risk frameworks. The move positions Morgan Stanley to capture activity in markets where settlement speed, fractionalisation, and operational efficiency are becoming increasingly important.
Tokenisation has emerged as a key theme across global finance as large institutions explore ways to modernize market infrastructure while maintaining compliance. Converting ownership of traditional assets into digital tokens allows transactions to settle more quickly than conventional instruments and enables assets to be divided into smaller units, potentially expanding access to markets that have historically been illiquid or restricted. For institutions, tokenised assets offer the prospect of streamlined back office processes, reduced reconciliation costs, and improved transparency. Morgan Stanley’s planned wallet would act as a bridge between traditional custody models and blockchain based settlement, giving clients a controlled environment to hold and manage tokenised positions. The approach signals that major banks increasingly view blockchain as an efficiency layer for existing markets rather than a wholesale replacement of current financial systems.
The planned wallet builds on Morgan Stanley’s broader digital asset strategy, which has already included offering exposure to bitcoin exchange traded funds and investing in research around distributed ledger technology. By focusing on custody and limited transaction capabilities, the bank appears to be taking a measured approach that aligns with regulatory expectations while testing demand for tokenised instruments. Industry observers see this as part of a wider shift where global banks are positioning themselves to service tokenised securities once legal frameworks mature. As regulators refine rules around digital representations of real world assets, institutional grade wallets are expected to play a central role in adoption. For Morgan Stanley, the 2026 timeline suggests a view that tokenisation will move from pilot projects into practical deployment over the next few years, reshaping how private and alternative assets are issued, held, and transferred.
