The financial world is undergoing a quiet revolution—one that could redefine how investors access traditional assets. As blockchain technology matures, real-world assets (RWAs) are being reimagined in digital form, and tokenized stocks are emerging as one of the most promising frontiers.
Just as stablecoins democratized access to digital dollars, tokenized stocks aim to do the same for equities—offering global investors seamless, 24/7 access to U.S. markets with lower friction and faster settlement. With major players like Robinhood, Coinbase, Ondo, and Kraken entering the space, the infrastructure for a new era of finance is rapidly taking shape.
This shift isn't just speculative; it's structural. From regulatory licenses to cross-chain integration and institutional-grade custody, the ecosystem is being built on solid foundations. But can this nascent market truly scale into a trillion-dollar opportunity?
Let’s explore how tokenized stocks are evolving, who’s leading the charge, and what it means for the future of investing.
The Rise of Tokenized Stocks: RWA’s Next Frontier
In the early 17th century, the Dutch East India Company introduced the concept of publicly traded shares—laying the foundation for modern stock markets. Over 400 years later, blockchain is ushering in Stocks 2.0: digital tokens representing real-world equities, tradable around the clock on decentralized networks.
On June 30, 2025, two major developments signaled a turning point:
- Robinhood launched Robinhood Stock Tokens, enabling EU customers to trade tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs.
- Backed, a Swiss financial issuer, debuted its xStocks product on Kraken and Bybit, offering blockchain-based exposure to American equities.
These moves mark a significant acceleration in the adoption of tokenized real-world assets (RWA)—particularly in equity markets. According to industry analysis, at least eight crypto-native firms are now actively building in this space, leveraging blockchains like Arbitrum, Solana, Base, and Ondo Chain, alongside secure custodians such as BitGo and Fireblocks.
But why now? And why stocks?
👉 Discover how blockchain is transforming traditional investing—click here to learn more
Robinhood: From Crypto Trading to Full-Stack Financial Infrastructure
Robinhood has long been more than just a retail brokerage. Since launching BTC and ETH trading in 2018, the platform has steadily expanded into Web3—with milestones including:
- Acquisition of Cove Markets (2021), enhancing its crypto trading engine.
- Launch of Robinhood Wallet (2022), supporting Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base.
- Purchase of Bitstamp (2024), giving it access to over 50 European financial licenses.
- Entry into Canada via acquisition of WonderFi (2025), owner of regulated platforms Bitbuy and Coinsquare.
- Securing a broker-dealer license from Lithuania’s central bank (2025), allowing EU-wide investment services under MiCA regulations.
- Acquisition of AI-driven investment advisor Pluto (2025), adding intelligent portfolio tools.
By June 2025, Robinhood was managing $38 billion in crypto assets, with $119 billion in annual crypto trading volume. It had also rolled out ETH and SOL staking for U.S. users.
Now, with its tokenized stock initiative, Robinhood allows EU clients to trade tokens backed 1:1 by actual shares in over 200 U.S. companies. These tokens offer:
- 24/7 trading, five days a week
- On-chain transferability
- Dividend distribution rights
Initially issued on Arbitrum, they will eventually migrate to Robinhood Chain, a proprietary Layer 2 blockchain designed specifically for RWA applications.
Beyond trading, Robinhood is advocating for regulatory clarity in the U.S., having submitted a formal proposal to the SEC for a national framework on tokenized RWAs. It also plans to launch the Real World Asset Exchange, facilitating off-chain trading with on-chain settlement.
This positions Robinhood not just as a broker—but as a full-stack financial infrastructure provider bridging TradFi and DeFi.
Coinbase: Regulatory-Ready Entry into Tokenized Equities
While Robinhood pushes forward in Europe, Coinbase is preparing for a U.S. debut.
As of June 17, 2025, Coinbase is seeking SEC approval to launch its own blockchain-based tokenized stock service. If cleared, it would directly compete with established brokerages like Charles Schwab and Robinhood in equity access.
Notably, Coinbase has held a broker-dealer license since 2018, though it hasn't historically used it for securities trading. Now, with growing demand for compliant digital asset solutions, that dormant capability may finally be activated.
Its combination of regulatory readiness, institutional trust, and deep crypto integration makes Coinbase a formidable contender in the tokenized stock race.
xStocks: Swiss Precision Meets Solana Speed
Backed by Swiss financial regulator FINMA, Backed brings institutional rigor to tokenization through its xStocks product.
Launched on Solana, xStocks offers tokenized versions of top U.S. stocks and ETFs. Thanks to Solana’s high throughput and low fees, these tokens support near-instant settlement—ideal for DeFi integrations.
Investors can trade xStocks on:
- Kraken: Offers 60+ tokenized U.S. stocks to non-U.S. clients across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
- Bybit: Supports 24/7 trading of popular U.S. equities and ETFs.
- Jupiter: A leading Solana DEX aggregator enabling decentralized access.
This multi-platform rollout exemplifies how tokenized stocks can coexist across centralized and decentralized ecosystems—maximizing accessibility without sacrificing compliance.
Dinari & Gemini: Democratizing Access to MSTR
On June 27, 2025, Gemini partnered with Dinari to launch a tokenized version of MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock—available first to EU users.
Built initially on Arbitrum, the token enables fractional ownership and seamless transfers. Dinari uses an on-demand minting model, ensuring each token is backed by real shares held in custody.
With $22.65 million in funding from VanEck Ventures, Hack VC, and others, Dinari aims to tokenize over 100 U.S. stocks and ETFs—opening American capital markets to global retail investors.
As Anna Wroblewska, Dinari’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted:
“There’s massive demand for U.S. public market exposure. Tokenization makes entry fast and affordable.”
Ondo Finance: Building the Global RWA Gateway
Ondo Finance is constructing one of the most ambitious platforms yet: Ondo Global Markets, designed to tokenize stocks, bonds, and ETFs for non-U.S. investors.
Announced on June 17, 2025, the project launched the Global Markets Alliance, uniting key players across custody, security, wallets, and trading:
- Solana Foundation: Provides blockchain infrastructure
- BitGo & Fireblocks: Offer institutional custody
- Jupiter & 1inch: Enable DeFi liquidity aggregation
- Trust Wallet, Bitget Wallet, Rainbow: Integrate token standards
- Alpaca: Handles brokerage and compliance
Ondo draws a direct parallel between stablecoins and tokenized securities: both reduce cost, increase speed, and expand access. If stablecoins unlocked global dollar usage, Ondo believes tokenized stocks can do the same for equities.
INX Digital: Expanding Into Private Equity
Beyond public stocks, INX Digital is pioneering tokenized private equity.
On June 18, 2025, it listed $DAKS, a tokenized share of Swiss startup Aktionariat AG. Backed by full regulatory compliance—including SEC, FINRA, and multi-state U.S. licenses—INX offers a legal pathway for global investors to participate in private company growth.
Aktionariat has already facilitated over CHF 50 million in transactions across 70+ companies—proving that blockchain-based equity issuance is viable and scalable.
Market Outlook: From Millions to Trillions?
Despite momentum, adoption remains early. As of June 30, 2025:
- Total RWA market cap: $24.47 billion
- Tokenized U.S. Treasuries: $7.39 billion
- Tokenized stocks: Just $341 million
Compare that to:
- U.S. stock market cap: $61.94 trillion
- U.S. national debt: Over $36 trillion
Even at less than 0.1% penetration, experts see massive potential.
Arnab Nask, CEO of STOKR, stated confidently:
“The total addressable market for tokenized stocks is unquestionably worth over a trillion dollars.”
Anna Wroblewska echoed this sentiment:
“Demand is exploding—not just from crypto natives but banks, fintechs, and digital wallets.”
👉 See how you can gain early access to next-gen financial assets
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are tokenized stocks?
Tokenized stocks are blockchain-based digital representations of real company shares. Each token is typically backed 1:1 by actual equity held in custody and grants holders economic rights like price exposure and dividends.
Are tokenized stocks legal?
Yes—when issued under proper regulation. Platforms like xStocks (FINMA-regulated) and INX Digital (SEC/FINRA-compliant) operate within legal frameworks to ensure investor protection.
How do I buy tokenized stocks?
You can purchase them on supported exchanges like Kraken, Bybit, Gemini, or future platforms like Robinhood Chain or Ondo Global Markets—usually requiring KYC verification.
Do I get voting rights with tokenized stocks?
Currently, most tokenized stocks do not include voting rights. Ownership is primarily economic—focused on price appreciation and dividend receipts.
Can I transfer tokenized stocks across blockchains?
Interoperability is improving. Projects like Dinari and Ondo are working toward multi-chain support and standardized asset formats across networks like Arbitrum and Solana.
How do tokenized stocks differ from CFDs or synthetic assets?
Unlike CFDs (contracts for difference), which are derivative bets on price movements without asset ownership, tokenized stocks represent actual underlying shares held in reserve—offering true ownership economics.
Final Thoughts: The Dawn of a New Financial Era
Tokenized stocks may still be in their infancy—but they’re growing fast. With support from regulated issuers, major exchanges, and scalable blockchains, they’re poised to become a cornerstone of the RWA movement.
Like stablecoins before them, they solve real problems: limited access, slow settlement, high costs. And as global demand for U.S. equities continues to surge, blockchain offers a powerful new distribution layer.
Whether through Robinhood’s L2 vision or Ondo’s DeFi-native marketplace, the path forward is clear: Wall Street is going on-chain.
👉 Be part of the financial evolution—start exploring tokenized assets today