Morgan Stanley (NYSE: $MS) Stock Rises Despite €101M FineMorgan Stanley (NYSE: NYSE:MS ) is gaining momentum in the market despite facing a €101 million fine from the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office over historical tax practices. The penalty involves dividend tax evasion tied to structured transactions executed between 2007 and 2012. Authorities stated that the bank filed incorrect returns as part of share acquisition strategies around dividend dates. Morgan Stanley accepted responsibility, repaid withheld taxes and interest by the end of 2024, and agreed to the settlement, closing the long-running case.
Despite regulatory scrutiny, Morgan Stanley continues expanding its presence in digital assets as major financial institutions deepen their crypto offerings. JPMorgan is preparing to accept Bitcoin and Ether as collateral for institutional loans by year-end, marking a significant shift toward wider blockchain integration in traditional finance. The bank already allows collateralization using crypto-linked ETFs, signaling rising comfort with token-backed financial products.
Broad adoption is accelerating as more banks commit to serving the growing digital asset market. Morgan Stanley plans to enable E*Trade clients to access cryptocurrencies next year, strengthening its strategic position as demand increases. Other major institutions—including State Street, BNY Mellon, Fidelity, and BlackRock—remain active through custody services, tokenization initiatives, and ETF support. Increasing regulatory clarity in the U.S. has encouraged firms to expand beyond basic crypto custody and move toward trading, advisory, and collateral services.
While the sector continues facing compliance challenges, investor appetite for blockchain-linked products is rising. Morgan Stanley’s stock has maintained positive momentum as investors look beyond penalties and focus on its growing role in digital finance.
Technical Outlook
The stock maintains an overall bullish structure, having broken above a key horizontal resistance at $141, which now acts as support. If price retraces, $141 remains the critical level to watch.
