[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee (이윤서)] Morgan Stanley's spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund, MSBT, holds 10,519 bitcoin and is closing in on $1 billion in assets.

Blockchain media outlet U.Today reported on Oct. 5 that the fund’s holdings were worth about $903.86 million, growing rapidly about five months after launch.

On-chain analytics firm Arkham said Morgan Stanley's spot bitcoin ETF holds about 10,519 BTC after its latest purchases. Arkham confirmed that the value of assets held in wallets linked to the fund was about $903.86 million. The figure reflects the amount accumulated in about five months since MSBT was listed.

The market is focusing on the pace. Arkham said Morgan Stanley has moved to aggressively accumulate bitcoin, and that its holdings have grown quickly as a result. If the current growth trend continues, the fund could reach the $1 billion milestone this month, the report said.

The background is also clear. Morgan Stanley's spot bitcoin ETF began trading in April on Arca, part of the New York Stock Exchange. This gave Morgan Stanley a structure for direct exposure to the ETF market. Given the relatively recent launch, the current holdings are read as a sign that initial inflows and purchases were carried out quickly.

The ability to track holdings has also boosted market interest. Arkham publicly identified the related addresses within a week of the fund’s launch. This allowed the market to track the fund’s bitcoin holdings and reserve changes in real time.

Amid this trend, MSBT is rapidly building a presence in the spot bitcoin ETF market. Morgan Stanley is steadily expanding bitcoin exposure without a separate change in direction. With nearly $1 billion worth of bitcoin accumulated in five months, the next focus is when it actually surpasses $1 billion and whether purchases continue after that.

Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF holds $903 million on-chain. MSBT started trading on NYSE Arca in April, and Arkham identified its addresses within a week - the first to do so publicly. Arkham has labelled $903.86M of BTC (10,519 BTC) across its wallets. https://t.co/3ipfEMmhvJ