Morgan Stanley executives are signaling the end of traditional banking hours as the financial industry moves toward 24/7 trading and settlement. According to reports from CoinDesk, Betsy Graseck, the bank's global head of banks and diversified finance research, declared that "the era of traditional banking operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is ending" during a digital-asset panel discussion. She emphasized that "your batch processing mentality is going to be a thing of the past" as the focus shifts toward rebuilding financial infrastructure for an always-on economy. Banks and exchanges are investing in technology that allows assets to move 24 hours a day rather than only during business hours, fundamentally reshaping traditional banking operations.
The transformation is being accelerated by tokenization technology, which Morgan Stanley executives view as extending far beyond cryptocurrencies. As reported by CoinDesk, Graseck explained that "the move to tokenized assets is about rebuilding financial infrastructure for an always-on economy." She noted that investor demand is no longer centered solely on bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, with institutions now focusing on tokenization to improve cash mobility, increase collateral efficiency and create new investment opportunities. The bank has been expanding its digital asset offerings, recently beginning spot trading in bitcoin and launching new Bitcoin, Ether and Solana ETFs. Graseck emphasized that companies that do not modernize their systems for the digital-asset environment risk falling behind and that adapting to the shift toward tokenization will form the basis for future growth.
According to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management investment strategist Denny Galindo, tokenized money market funds and stocks have expanded rapidly this year and are expected to introduce many investors to blockchain technology before they ever buy cryptocurrency directly. Galindo predicted that "tokenized products will be the first way crypto hits the people that aren't just in it all the time" and noted that wealth management clients are becoming more comfortable with digital assets as investment options expand beyond bitcoin. He expects investors to spend more time deciding how digital assets fit within broader portfolios as more exchange-traded funds and tokenized products become available.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management's global head of capital markets and ETF strategy Ali Wallace highlighted growing interest in multi-currency digital asset ETFs as the next stage of innovation. As reported by CoinDesk, Wallace described these products as "the next evolution of digital asset investment products" and noted that "there really is an interest for multi-currency, multi-product" ETFs. Graseck expects the transition to take years rather than months, but believes the direction is clear, stating that "there are investors who are very interested in being able to manage their funds on a 24/7 basis" and that "the entirety of your investor base is not your domestic market."
