Catenaa, Saturday, May 17, 2025- Andrew Peel, former head of Morgan Stanley digital asset markets, has stepped down to launch a new venture focused on decentralized finance (DeFi) and digital asset investment.
Peel, who joined Morgan Stanley in 2018 from Credit Suisse, plans to fundraise for the new crypto and digital asset firm, which will operate from Zug, Switzerland, a known hub for crypto innovation.
The company will include both an asset management division, which will focus on tokenized funds and DeFi investments, and a technology arm aimed at bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized systems.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the new firm will also develop trading technologies to help traditional financial institutions navigate the evolving regulatory landscape of the crypto space.
Peel’s departure comes at a time when Morgan Stanley is expanding its cryptocurrency offerings.
The bank is set to introduce crypto trading on its retail-focused E-Trade platform in 2024, following its 2021 launch of Bitcoin fund access for institutional clients.
The move reflects broader shifts in Wall Street’s attitude toward digital assets, fueled by changes in US policy under former President Donald Trump, and an increasing interest in tokenized products from major firms like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton.
Peel’s decision to leave Morgan Stanley is part of a wider trend, with senior executives in the finance sector increasingly turning to DeFi and crypto-related ventures.
