Digital Assets Strategist, Vice President/Executive Director

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries.

As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence and strong team ethic. Morgan Stanley can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives and needs is an important part of our culture.

Morgan Stanley Research

Morgan Stanley Equity Research is uniquely committed to being an essential part of our clients' investment process. We strive to be the sell-side research provider that best understands the buy side. Through relevant and timely conversations with leading investors, we focus resources on risk-reward essentials: identifying the investor debates, assessing the potential outcomes, and uncovering the evidence our clients need to validate their investment decisions. Our equity analysts cover some 3,000 stocks; our economists, strategists and fixed income analysts cover all major regions and other asset classes around the globe.

The Role

We are seeking a Digital Assets Strategist to lead our research efforts focused on the transformative potential of blockchain technology, its infrastructure, and its expanding ecosystem across financial services and other emerging verticals. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise across digital assets and underlying technologies shaping the future digital economy. We are looking to build thought leadership across our digital assets’ coverage.

Preferred Level:
Vice President or Executive Director at peer firms; candidates with equivalent experience from buy-side institutions or relevant industry roles will also be considered.

Primary responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

• Creating a comprehensive research framework for evaluating digital assets and investment strategies, including directional views on cryptocurrencies.
• Authoring high-impact publications that analyze cryptocurrency markets, fund flows, and trading strategies.
• Publishing timely updates on market structure, custody infrastructure, crypto mining, staking, payments, and emerging blockchain use cases.
• Collaborating across global research teams , including equity sector analysts, fixed income and FX strategists, and economists, to integrate digital asset insights into broader market views.
• Engaging regularly with internal and external stakeholders , including institutional investors, wealth management teams, and firm leadership, to communicate research findings and strategic perspectives. 

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in sell-side/buy side/or crypto industry research covering cryptocurrencies and related financial instruments. Experience in equity research is a strong plus. Candidates with relevant backgrounds in investment banking or the digital asset industry will also be considered.
• Proven ability to build and maintain financial models using Excel; advanced proficiency is required.
• Demonstrated experience in professional writing , e.g. equity research notes, investor correspondence, and/or industry reports.
• Ability to adapt quickly and perform under pressure in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong communication skills across variety of audiences.
• CFA designation is a plus.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

We are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 89 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

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Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $225,000 and $250,000 per year for Vice President, and $300,000 per year for Executive Director, at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees.

It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet).