Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF drew $371 million of share contributions while Bitcoin erased $66.8 million

Nearly all of Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF operating-period decline was unrealized as gross share contributions reached $371.1 million.

Editorial collage of Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, with strong share contributions, minimal redemptions, a distressed Bitcoin vault, and unrealized depreciation figures.
Image by CryptoSlate
2 min read

Quick Take

  1. Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust reported $371.1 million in gross share contributions during its first 85 days, despite $66.8 million in operating losses.
  2. Nearly all the decline came from unrealized Bitcoin depreciation, showing the trust's accounting loss was not the same as heavy investor withdrawals.
  3. Redemptions stayed small, but the filing cannot say who sold shares or whether retail trading drove the later basket activity.

Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) recorded a $66.8 million decrease in net assets from operations during its first 85 days, even as the exchange-traded fund brought in $371.1 million of gross share contributions against $5.26 million of redemption distributions.

The trust’s first quarterly filing shows creations dominated redemptions while Bitcoin fell. Redemption distributions equaled 1.42% of gross contributions from April 7 through June 30.

Unrealized Bitcoin depreciation accounted for $66.17 million of the operating-period decrease, nearly 99%. The balance consisted of $618,611 in realized Bitcoin losses and $72,288 in sponsor fees, distinguishing the $66.86 million accounting result from an ETF outflow measure.

Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF net asset value per share fell 14.01%, from $19.70 to $16.94, while its disclosed CoinDesk Bitcoin benchmark declined 13.98% over the same period. At quarter-end, the trust held 5,059.3077 BTC with a $365.18 million cost basis and a fair value of $299 million, based on a Bitcoin price of $59,101.49.

MSBT first 85 days infographic comparing $371.10 million in gross share contributions with $5.26 million in redemption distributions and showing 98.97% of its $66.86 million operating decrease was unrealized Bitcoin depreciation.
Infographic comparing Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust share contributions and redemptions, with $66.86 million depreciation driven almost entirely by unrealized Bitcoin losses.
On-chain data says Bitcoin price at $60k is cheap, but buyers are still nervous
Related Reading

On-chain data says Bitcoin price at $60k is cheap, but buyers are still nervous

Bitcoin’s fall below $60,000 shifted the test from valuation to demand, with buyers still slow to absorb the selloff.
Jun 25, 2026 · Gino Matos

Creations dominated after the zero-redemption month

MSBT issued 17.9 million shares and redeemed 250,000 during the reporting period, equal to 1,790 creation baskets and 25 redemption baskets. It ended June with 17.65 million shares outstanding and added a net $365.84 million through capital transactions.

MSBT completed its first trading month without daily redemptions. The 25 later redemption baskets ended that streak, although their value remained small relative to gross creations.

Morgan Stanley’s MSBT ends first trading month with 0 outflows amid Bitcoin ETFs 6-week inflow streak
Related Reading

Morgan Stanley’s MSBT ends first trading month with 0 outflows amid Bitcoin ETFs 6-week inflow streak

US spot Bitcoin ETFs have drawn $3 billion since early April, providing a strong macroeconomic tailwind for MSBT's zero-outflow first month.
May 10, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

The filing’s GAAP figures and daily ETF flow tables use different measurement bases. MSBT’s $371.1 million contribution combined $200.3 million in cash proceeds with $170.8 million in Bitcoin received for share issuance.

CryptoSlate Daily Brief

Daily signals, zero noise.

Market-moving headlines and context delivered every morning in one tight read.

5-minute digest 100k+ readers

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

You’re subscribed. Welcome aboard.
Bitcoin ETF outflows expose split demand after Warsh’s Fed debut
Related Reading

Bitcoin ETF outflows expose split demand after Warsh’s Fed debut

Farside data shows $82.2 million leaving the category, but FBTC and MSBT still drew inflows after the Fed reset.
Jun 18, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

Trust-level creations and redemptions occur through Authorized Participants in 10,000-share baskets at net asset value, according to the fund’s prospectus, while ordinary investors normally trade MSBT shares on NYSE Arca.

Those basket transactions do not identify the end sellers or their motivation, so the filing cannot establish whether retail activity drove the redemptions.

The trust had 21.74 million shares outstanding on July 31, up 4.09 million, or 23.17%, from June 30. The increase confirms net creation activity continued after the reporting period, though the filing does not identify which investors or distribution channels produced it.

$63,434.10 +0.07% 24 hour change
1H -0.09% 24H +0.07% 7D -1.28%
30D -1.66% 60D -3.37% 90D -19.84%

Bitcoin is +0.07% over the past 24 hours and currently sits at rank #1 by market cap.

Market cap $1.27T
Volume (24h) $18.68B -18.73%
Circ. supply 20.07M
FDV $1.33T
Crypto Market Summary

Where the broader market sits right now

Right now, the total crypto market is valued at $2.18T with $47.13B in 24-hour volume. Bitcoin dominance sits at 58.50%. Explore the market

Global market cap $2.18T
24H market volume $47.13B
Bitcoin dominance 58.50%