Frequently asked questions
Cryptocurrency
Account basics
Who is eligible to open a crypto account?
Any US-based client or prospective client can log on to etrade.com, open an individual brokerage account and a separate, non-brokerage linked zerohash crypto account, to begin trading crypto.
What coins are available to trade?
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana
What are the commissions and fees to trade crypto?
A commission fee of 0.50% (50 basis points) will be charged on the notional trade value. There is no additional spread fee and no markup. Commission fee is charged by zerohash, of which E*TRADE receives a portion.
How do I open a crypto account?
- If you have an existing individual brokerage account at E*TRADE, you can open and link a crypto account powered by zerohash through an expedited account opening process.
- If you do not have an existing individual brokerage account at E*TRADE, you can open an individual brokerage account and a linked crypto account powered by zerohash simultaneously through a single account opening process.
Do I need to fund my crypto trading account?
No, your crypto account and your brokerage account share buying power. In order to place a crypto trade after your crypto account is opened, you must first fund your linked brokerage account, which will be your source of purchasing power. When buying or selling crypto, funds will automatically sweep in and out of the linked brokerage account to settle the crypto trades. To fund your brokerage account, navigate to Pay & Transfer, then to Transfer Money.
Which platform is crypto trading (powered by zerohash) available on?
E*TRADE web and the E*TRADE app. Coming soon to Power E*TRADE platforms.
How many crypto accounts can I open?
Each individual is limited to a single crypto account.
What is E*TRADE’s relationship to zerohash?
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley is partnering with Zerohash LLC, a trusted digital asset provider, to facilitate reliable liquidity, quality execution, and secure custody. Your crypto account is provided by zerohash.
I have a Morgan Stanley account; can I trade crypto on E*TRADE?
In order to trade cryptocurrencies on E*TRADE powered by our partnership with zerohash, Morgan Stanley clients must have an individual E*TRADE brokerage account linked to a separate, non-brokerage zerohash account.
What tax form is provided for crypto?
A 1099-DA will be furnished by zerohash and made available in the Tax Center on E*TRADE.
Trading
How do I place a crypto trade on E*TRADE?
Crypto trades are facilitated on etrade.com and the E*TRADE app. Explore our trading how-to for steps to placing crypto trades on these platforms. Crypto trading is coming soon to Power E*TRADE platforms.
What order types are available for trading crypto?
Market orders and limit orders, with available durations of Good for Day and Good until Date (up to 60 days).
What is the minimum and maximum order size for placing a crypto trade?
$10 is the minimum and $500,000 is the maximum.
Can I buy a fractional amount (e.g., $10 of BTC)?
Yes, you can trade in currency (USD) or coin quantity ($10 minimum order). If you enter a USD amount, type the dollar amount you want to trade. If you enter a coin amount, type the cryptocurrency quantity you want to trade (whole or fractional, up to 8 decimal places, if available).
What are the trading hours for crypto?
Trading in crypto is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Security, Regulation and Insurance
Is crypto at E*TRADE (powered by zerohash) secure?
Clients are provided with secure E*TRADE platforms that include encryption, firewalls, dedicated fraud teams, and multi-factor authentication. zerohash is committed to maintaining the crypto industry’s highest security and privacy standards and has established a vulnerability disclosure program to encourage security researchers and ethical hackers to help identify and address potential security vulnerabilities.
Is zerohash regulated in the US?
Yes. zerohash complies with all applicable laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which it operates.
Are my crypto assets insured?
Your zerohash account and your E*TRADE self-directed account are subject to different regulatory treatment. Specifically, your zerohash account under the zerohash user agreement is held by zerohash, and digital assets carried in and for your zerohash account under the zerohash user agreement are not deposits and are not subject to insurance protection, including but not limited to that provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”).
These can be found on the agreement and disclosure page at account opening.
Given E*TRADE’s partnership with zerohash, where will clients’ crypto coins be custodied?
E*TRADE’s crypto offering provides secure custody via zerohash, a trusted digital asset provider.