Chief John Reed Stark, former SEC Internet Enforcement, has cautioned Morgan Stanley against offering spot Bitcoin ETFs to clients.
Stark criticized the move, suggesting it could lead to an unprecedented SEC and FINRA examination. Last week, Morgan Stanley, a major U.S. financial institution, began providing BTC ETFs, marking a key step for institutional crypto adoption.
Stark described the decision as risky, stating that the bank’s 15,000 brokers pitching Bitcoin could invite intense regulatory scrutiny.
He noted that regulators would thoroughly review all Bitcoin transaction records, potentially uncovering violations. Stark ended his warning with a sarcastic “good luck” to the bank’s compliance team.
On August 2, Morgan Stanley allowed its advisors to offer Bitcoin ETFs from BlackRock and Fidelity to wealthy clients.
Following this, Bitcoin ETFs saw significant inflows, with IShares alone adding 2,641 BTC, valued at $159.57 million, bringing its total to approximately $21 billion.
Several U.S. states are exploring the possibility of establishing Bitcoin reserves, even as President Donald Trump pushes for a national Bitcoin strategy. However, not all states are on board with this initiative.
Michael Saylor’s Strategy has made another significant Bitcoin acquisition, purchasing $1.99 billion worth of the cryptocurrency as part of its ongoing 21/21 strategy.
Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have seen their largest two-week outflow since their introduction, with investors pulling over $1.14 billion amid mounting concerns over trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
Michael Saylor, co-founder of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), has hinted at another major Bitcoin purchase after a brief pause in acquisitions.