Morgan Stanley has officially applied for a de novo national trust bank charter, signaling a major step forward in its digital asset strategy. A public filing with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) confirms the application was received on Feb. 18 under the name “Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, National Association.”

If approved, the new entity would allow the bank to custody digital assets, execute crypto purchases, sales, swaps, transfers, and even support staking activities for clients. A national trust charter authorizes fiduciary services such as asset safekeeping and custody, while “de novo” indicates the bank is being created from scratch rather than acquired — marking Morgan Stanley’s first trust charter specifically focused on crypto.