One of the world’s largest asset managers, Morgan Stanley, is reportedly exploring the addition of cryptocurrency trading to its E-Trade online brokerage platform as it anticipates a friendlier regulatory environment under the incoming administration.

The T3 Financial Crimes Unit has frozen a total of 100 million of Tether’s USDT stablecoin used by illicit actors since the organization was launched back in September of last year.

Crypto prime brokerage firm FalconX has acquired Arbelos Markets, a derivatives startup launched back in 2023 by two cryptocurrency industry veterans.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• Morgan Stanley Eyes Crypto Trading on E-Trade 
• Tron’s T3 Financial Crimes Unit Freezes $100 Million in USDT Linked to Illicit Activities
• Crypto Brokerage Firm FalconX Acquires Derivatives Startup Arbelos Markets

Morgan Stanley Eyes Crypto Trading on E-Trade

One of the world’s largest asset managers, Morgan Stanley, is reportedly exploring the addition of cryptocurrency trading to its E-Trade online brokerage platform as it anticipates a friendlier regulatory environment under the incoming administration.

This anticipation comes after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to support the cryptocurrency industry. Speaking at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in July last year, he pledged to be the 'crypto president,' promising to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve and champion crypto innovation across the country.

The move would make E-Trade one of the largest traditional retail brokerages to offer direct access to cryptocurrency markets, positioning it as a competitor to established platforms like Coinbase.

Morgan Stanley’s acquisition of E-Trade in 2020 brought 5.2 million accounts holding approximately $360 billion under its umbrella, meaning a substantial user base could soon have easier access to cryptocurrency markets.

Tron’s T3 Financial Crimes Unit Freezes $100 Million in USDT Linked to Illicit Activities

The T3 Financial Crimes Unit has frozen a total of 100 million USDT stablecoin used by illicit actors since the organization was launched back in September of last year.

The unit, a collaborative effort between the Tron blockchain, leading stablecoin issuer Tether, and blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, analyzed millions of transactions across five continents, monitoring a total volume above $3 billion in USDT in its effort.

T3 leverages TRM Labs’ blockchain intelligence and monitoring tools to assist Tron and Tether in identifying and freezing USDT associated with illicit activities. Nearly $60 billion in USDT has been issued on the Tron blockchain, making it the second-largest network for the stablecoin, behind Ethereum where $75 billion circulates.

As much as $3 million worth of the frozen USDT had connections to North Korea, which has been actively looking to infiltrate cryptocurrency projects to generate revenue for the country’s leadership.

Crypto Brokerage Firm FalconX Acquires Derivatives Startup Arbelos Markets

Crypto prime brokerage firm FalconX has acquired Arbelos Markets, a derivatives startup launched back in 2023 by two cryptocurrency industry veterans.

The terms of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed, but according to a Bloomberg report, the transaction is expected to be financed through a mix of cash and FalconX stock.

FalconX runs FalconX Brave, a crypto derivatives swaps dealer registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the firm noted the recent acquisition will help expand its derivatives operations.

The firm’s CEO, Raghu Yarlagadda, had back in October revealed he expected a “wave of consolidation” in the crypto sector and confirmed the company was actively pursuing strategic acquisitions.

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