The traditional 9-to-5 banking day is officially dying, says Morgan Stanley execs

Morgan Stanley executives have stated that the traditional 9-to-5 banking day is coming to an end as financial markets increasingly move toward 24/7 trading and settlement. During a panel discussion on digital assets, Betsy Graseck, Morgan Stanley’s global head of banks and diversified finance research, emphasized that the shift to tokenized assets is fundamentally changing financial infrastructure. This transformation is allowing markets and payments to operate continuously rather than during fixed business hours, marking a significant departure from conventional batch processing systems.

Morgan Stanley has been actively expanding its digital asset offerings to align with this trend. The firm now provides spot trading of bitcoin, ether, and solana on its E*TRADE platform and has introduced spot ETFs for these cryptocurrencies. According to executives, investor interest has broadened beyond cryptocurrencies to include tokenization of various traditional assets, which can improve cash mobility, collateral efficiency, and create new investment opportunities. This broader adoption of blockchain technology is expected to significantly impact how investors access and manage assets.

The move toward tokenization is also changing investor behavior, with tokenized money market funds and stocks growing rapidly this year. Investment strategist Denny Galindo highlighted that many investors may encounter blockchain technology first through tokenized products rather than direct cryptocurrency purchases. Ali Wallace, head of capital markets and ETF strategy at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, noted rising interest in multi-currency digital asset ETFs as the next phase of product innovation, reflecting evolving investor demand.

Despite the growing momentum, Graseck cautioned that this transition to an always-on financial ecosystem will take years rather than months. Nonetheless, she underscored that firms ignoring the shift risk being left behind as financial activities continue migrating onto blockchain-based infrastructures. The development signals a fundamental change in financial markets towards continuous access and real-time settlement, reshaping investor expectations globally.