Morgan Stanley is one of the largest and most important investment banks in the world. For some time now they have been interested in cryptocurrencies, so much so that according to Bloomberg Bitcoin Swap Trading is ready, and they plan to offer their customers the trading of complex derivatives linked to bitcoin.
The source of this information is actually anonymous, but Bloomberg says it is “a person familiar with the matter“. Morgan Stanley has so far refused to comment on the news.
The bank may therefore soon make available contracts that offer investors synthetic exposure to bitcoin’s performance. Investors will be able to go long or short using price return swaps, and the bank will charge a spread for each transaction.
Morgan Stanley would be ready to offer this type of trading, but will only launch the service once demand from institutional clients is substantiated.
The objective is not to negotiate directly in bitcoin, but swaps linked to future contracts on bitcoin. It will therefore not be an exchange, but a classic trading platform for this type of contract.
Morgan Stanley is not the only traditional bank interested in this new sector: Citigroup has also recently announced its entry.