Morgan Stanley Hunts Crypto Experts for DeFi and Tokenization Push

Morgan Stanley, a global financial powerhouse with over $1.4 trillion in assets under management, is actively recruiting crypto talent to develop infrastructure for decentralized finance (DeFi) and asset tokenization. The bank’s hiring spree, reported on February 15, 2026, targets specialists in blockchain protocols and smart contracts. This move signals a shift from experimentation to building permanent crypto products.

Morgan Stanley’s Crypto Infrastructure Plans

Morgan Stanley posted multiple job listings on its career portal, seeking experts in Ethereum-based protocols and tokenization frameworks as of early 2026. Roles include blockchain engineers and DeFi product managers tasked with creating scalable solutions for institutional clients. The bank aims to roll out pilot programs by Q3 2026, focusing on tokenized securities and DeFi lending tools. Specific teams or executives leading this effort remain undisclosed in public reports.

Why This Matters

This hiring push addresses the growing demand for tokenized real-world assets (RWA), a market projected to reach $10 trillion by 2030 per Boston Consulting Group estimates. Morgan Stanley’s early mover status among traditional banks could position it ahead of competitors like JPMorgan, which manages $3.9 trillion in assets and has its own blockchain unit, Onyx. Institutional-grade DeFi solutions could unlock lower transaction costs and 24/7 settlement for clients. For deeper insights into DeFi trends, check DeFi News.

Market Response and Outlook

While Morgan Stanley’s stock price (MS) remained stable at $95.30 on February 15, 2026, per NYSE data, crypto markets showed indirect optimism with Ethereum (ETH) trading at $3,200, up 2.5% week-over-week on CoinGecko. Community forums on X noted cautious excitement about Wall Street’s DeFi pivot, though no official Morgan Stanley token or crypto asset exists yet. The bank plans to integrate its solutions with major DeFi protocols like Aave by late 2026. For broader crypto updates, visit Crypto News.

Additional Context on DeFi Adoption

Morgan Stanley’s focus aligns with DeFi’s total value locked (TVL) hitting $85 billion as of February 2026, per data from DefiLlama. The bank’s infrastructure could target institutional inflows, which accounted for 15% of DeFi activity in 2025. This strategic pivot underscores traditional finance’s accelerating embrace of blockchain tech.