Big Moves in Crypto: Banks and Companies Make Bold Plays

Morgan Stanley is diving deeper into crypto by filing for its own bitcoin and solana ETFs. This is a big deal because it shows major banks are getting more serious about digital assets. Morgan Stanley already lets clients trade crypto ETFs from other companies, but now it wants to create its own. The solana ETF is interesting because it plans to stake some of its holdings, which is like earning dividends in the crypto world. Meanwhile, World Liberty Financial wants to set up a national trust bank for stablecoin operations. This bank would issue USD1, a stablecoin that's already worth over $3. 3 billion. The goal is to offer services like custody and stablecoin conversion to big players in the crypto space. Coincheck Group is buying 3iQ, a digital asset manager based in Canada. This deal could help Coincheck expand its services and attract more institutional investors. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, but it still needs regulatory approval.Strategy, a company known for holding a lot of bitcoin, just bought more. They added 1, 283 bitcoin in early January, bringing their total to over 673, 000 bitcoin. This shows they're still bullish on bitcoin despite recent price drops. Coinbase, a popular crypto exchange, got some mixed reviews from analysts. Some upgraded their ratings and price targets, while others lowered them. The upgrades highlight Coinbase's strong position in the crypto market, but the downgrades point to slower trading volumes and lower bitcoin prices. Other crypto news includes price target changes for companies like Gemini and Circle Internet, as well as new partnerships and initiatives in the crypto space. It's clear that the crypto world is still evolving, with new developments happening all the time.