Robinhood Launches Tokenized US Stock Trading for EU Users, Expanding into Crypto-Powered Finance

Robinhood launches tokens allowing EU users to trade in US stocks

June 30 (Reuters) - Robinhood (HOOD.O), opens new tab said on Monday it has launched tokens that will allow its customers in the European Union to trade more than 200 U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds, including Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab, Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab and Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab. The commission-free tokens can be traded around-the-clock, five days a week. They will be issued through a partnership with blockchain firm Arbitrum. Robinhood's shares hit a record high and were last up 6.6%. With the move, the company stands to benefit from rising global interest, opens new tab in the U.S. stock market -- home to some of the world's most influential tech giants and leading beneficiaries of the AI boom. Tokenized equities mix traditional finance with crypto-like trading, and have been gaining traction among international investors due to better access, flexible trading hours and lower costs. Experts believe such tokens could dramatically alter the securities investing landscape. In a January opinion piece for The Washington Post, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev wrote tokenization could also let retail investors access private companies' stocks. Menlo Park, California-based Robinhood plans to eventually develop its own blockchain that will expand trading hours for tokens to 24/7 from 24/5 currently. The company will also expand the number of available stock tokens to "thousands" by the end of the year, Tenev said at its keynote event in France on Monday. "Tokenization is going to open the door to a massive trading revolution," he said. Last month, crypto exchange Kraken also launched equities-linked tokens for non-U.S. investors. EXPANDING CRYPTO TOOLS Robinhood also announced several new product offerings, including crypto perpetual futures for its EU customers and staking for U.S. users. The perpetual futures will allow users to make leveraged bets on the prices of cryptocurrencies. Unlike traditional futures, they have no expiry date. Rival Coinbase (COIN.O), opens new tab will also begin offering similar tools to U.S. customers from next month. Meanwhile, staking lets customers lock up their cryptocurrency to help validate transactions on the blockchain, earning rewards in return. The practice had been controversial in recent years, until the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff last month said some forms of staking are not securities offerings. Reporting by Niket Nishant and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Future of Money Niket Nishant Thomson Reuters Niket Nishant reports on breaking news and the quarterly earnings of Wall Street's largest banks, card companies, financial technology upstarts and asset managers. He also covers the biggest IPOs on U.S. exchanges, and late-stage venture capital funding alongside news and regulatory developments in the cryptocurrency industry. His writing appears on the finance, business, markets and future of money sections of the website. He did his post-graduation from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM) in Bengaluru. Manya Saini Thomson Reuters Manya reports on prominent publicly listed U.S. financial firms, including Wall Street's biggest banks, card companies, asset managers, and fintechs. She also covers late-stage venture capital funding, initial public offerings on U.S. exchanges, and regulatory developments in the cryptocurrency industry. Her work appears in the finance, markets, business, and future of money sections of the Reuters website. A passionate reader, she loves books across genres, from classics to contemporary fiction. She holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi and a master's in journalism from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication.

Robinhood Wants to Redo Wall Street on the Blockchain

With stock tokens, a custom blockchain, and crypto-powered futures, Robinhood is laying the foundation for a 24/7 financial system beyond traditional banks. Robinhood, the company behind one of the most popular trading apps for everyday investors, just revealed a sweeping new vision for the future of finance. And its bold plan seems to leave traditional Wall Street institutions behind. The company announced a daring set of new products this week from Cannes, France. These offerings are designed to move traditional financial assets, like company stocks, investment funds (ETFs), and even complex trading tools called derivatives, entirely onto the blockchain. The clear message? Crypto isn't just for digital money anymore. It's for everything. The most attention-grabbing announcement was stock tokens. Think of these as digital versions of U.S. company stocks and ETFs. Now, for the first time, European customers can get access to these major American investments without needing a traditional stockbroker, a big Wall Street firm, or even being physically in the U.S. Unlike buying regular shares through a brokerage, these stock tokens exist on Arbitrum, which is a Layer 2 blockchain built on top of Ethereum. Imagine Ethereum as a busy main highway for digital transactions; a Layer 2 like Arbitrum is a faster, less congested side road that uses the main highway for security, making transactions quicker and cheaper. These tokens can be bought and sold 24 hours a day, five days a week. Robinhood claims they come with no commission fees or extra charges from them, and even pay out dividends (portions of a company's profit distributed to shareholders, now paid directly to token holders). Over 200 different stocks and ETFs are available. In simple terms: your investment portfolio now lives on a digital, decentralized ledger. But Robinhood isn't just using existing blockchain technology. It's actively building its own custom Layer 2 blockchain. This new digital network is specifically designed to power the tokenization of real-world assets. This means taking things that exist in the physical world, like company shares, investment funds, and potentially even real estate in the future, and turning them into digital tokens that can be easily traded and managed on the blockchain. Robinhood's ultimate goal, they say, is to create a financial system where assets trade around the clock, are easily moved between different digital wallets (called seamless bridging), and can be self-custodied. Self-custody means you, and only you, directly control your digital assets, rather than a bank or brokerage holding them for you. This new blockchain will also support staking (more on that below) and seamless trading without needing traditional banks or clearinghouses, which are financial middlemen that ensure trades between buyers and sellers are completed smoothly and securely. It's a vision that, if it succeeds, could replace many core functions of today's financial infrastructure: from the stockbrokers who execute trades to the custodians who hold assets and the exchanges where they change hands. Beyond the stock tokens, Robinhood also announced crypto perpetual futures for its European customers. These are advanced trading tools that allow investors to bet on the future price of cryptocurrencies, with the option to use leverage (trading with borrowed money to amplify potential gains or losses). Unlike traditional futures contracts, these "perpetuals" never expire, offering continuous exposure to crypto asset prices. For eligible U.S. customers, Robinhood is also launching crypto staking, starting with popular cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Solana. Staking is a way to earn passive income by "locking up" your crypto to support the operations and security of a blockchain network. Think of it like earning interest in a savings account, but for your digital assets. And there's more for customers in both regions: European users will gain access to smart routing for crypto trades (a system that automatically finds the best price for your trade by checking multiple exchanges). Both U.S. and EU customers will see Cortex, an AI-powered investing tool, and U.S. customers will soon get a crypto rewards credit card. Cortex is an artificial intelligence assistant designed to help customers quickly understand price movements and market shifts in real time. While the U.S. financial market remains heavily regulated, Robinhood is strategically using its established presence in Europe to experiment with a groundbreaking financial future. In this vision, assets are converted into digital tokens, they are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and their movement is managed by computer code on a blockchain rather than by traditional clearinghouses. The idea is straightforward but revolutionary: replace Wall Street's old infrastructure with the efficiency and transparency of a blockchain. Robinhood's strategy is clear: make investing simpler and more widely available, using the fundamental technology of cryptocurrency to achieve this. Often, this can happen without the user needing to be a "crypto native" (someone deeply immersed in the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology). If successful, this isn't just a series of new product launches; it could be a blueprint for how digital assets quietly but fundamentally reshape the global financial system from within. The "Trojan Horse" has truly entered the city gates, and the world is waiting to see what emerges.

Robinhood stock jumps 10% after letting EU users trade US stocks with crypto tokens

Robinhood tokenized stock trading is making waves in the European Union as the platform launches blockchain-based tokens for over 200 U.S. stocks and ETFs, including Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. These tokens can be traded commission-free, 24 hours a day, five days a week, offering EU investors easier access to the U.S. market. Robinhood plans to expand to thousands of tokenized stocks and even include private giants like OpenAI and SpaceX. This bold move combines crypto trading flexibility with traditional finance, making it a game-changer for international investors looking to tap into the U.S. tech and AI boom.Robinhood launches tokenized US stock trading for EU investors, tapping into global crypto and AI investing boom- Robinhood has launched a major innovation for European Union investors: tokenized U.S. stock trading. Starting June 30, EU users can now buy and sell tokens that represent over 200 U.S. stocks and ETFs, including top names like Apple (AAPL.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), and Nvidia (NVDA.O). The move marks a bold expansion into crypto-style stock trading, with tokens issued through a partnership with blockchain firm Arbitrum. Trading on these tokens will be commission-free, and available 24 hours a day, five days a week -- a major shift from traditional stock market hours. Robinhood says it plans to expand availability to 24/7 trading in the future, and increase its stock token list to "thousands" by year-end, according to CEO Vlad Tenev, who made the announcement in France during the company's keynote event. Let's break down what this means for investors and why it could change the game for international stock access. Robinhood's new feature allows EU customers to trade U.S. stocks through blockchain-issued tokens. These tokens represent real stocks and ETFs and are fully backed 1:1. Investors can buy or sell these tokens without any commission, much like cryptocurrencies. The tokens are built on Arbitrum's blockchain, a leading Ethereum scaling solution. This setup allows the tokens to trade faster and more efficiently than traditional stock systems, and to be available almost around the clock. Robinhood executives emphasized that this is a major step in making Wall Street more accessible globally. The move comes amid growing global demand for access to the U.S. stock market, especially as AI-focused companies like OpenAI and Nvidia dominate headlines. The tokenized model bridges the gap between traditional stock investing and crypto-style flexibility, offering easier access, faster settlement, and broader trading hours. Robinhood says it also plans to launch tokens tied to privately held companies, beginning with OpenAI and SpaceX, both of which are widely watched by tech-focused investors. These tokens would allow investors to gain exposure to companies that are not yet publicly listed -- something previously unavailable to everyday traders. Robinhood isn't stopping at tokenized stocks. It's also launching crypto perpetual futures for EU users, allowing leveraged bets on crypto prices. These futures, unlike traditional contracts, don't have expiration dates, which gives traders more flexibility. Additionally, U.S. users will get access to staking services, where users can lock up crypto to validate blockchain transactions in return for rewards. This follows recent clarity from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which indicated that some types of staking are not securities offerings, removing some regulatory uncertainty. Meanwhile, Coinbase, Robinhood's rival, is expected to roll out similar tools for U.S. investors starting next month -- signaling a race to dominate this growing hybrid investing space. Robinhood (HOOD) shares soared nearly 10% on June 30, closing at around $92.15, after the company launched a new feature allowing European Union users to trade tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs. The stock opened the day at $85.65, hit a low of $85.01, and reached a high of $92.28. Total volume for the day topped 54.7 million shares, pushing Robinhood's market cap to approximately $36.85 billion. The rally came after Robinhood introduced blockchain-based tokens representing over 200 top U.S. stocks, including Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft. These tokens can be traded commission-free, 24 hours a day, five days a week. They are issued through a partnership with Arbitrum, a leading Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain. Robinhood's stock (HOOD.O) surged nearly 10% following the news, reaching a record high. Investors appear optimistic about the company's direction, especially as it merges decentralized finance (DeFi) features with mainstream investing. The plan to eventually launch its own blockchain network and offer 24/7 trading shows how Robinhood is betting big on reshaping the traditional financial system. "Tokenization is going to open the door to a massive trading revolution," Tenev said during the keynote. The concept of tokenized equities -- blending traditional stocks with blockchain infrastructure -- is gaining traction. By reducing costs, offering fractional ownership, and removing the time constraints of normal stock exchanges, this model could reshape how global investors interact with U.S. markets. Still, in the U.S., regulatory frameworks for tokenized stocks are not yet clear. While international platforms like Robinhood and Kraken are pushing ahead, it's uncertain how U.S. regulators will respond to this evolving space. But one thing is clear: Robinhood is positioning itself as a global leader in next-gen trading tools, especially for non-U.S. investors who want a piece of the booming U.S. tech and AI-driven market. Q1. What is Robinhood tokenized stock trading? It lets EU users trade U.S. stocks as blockchain tokens 24/5 without fees. Q2. Can Robinhood tokens include companies like OpenAI and SpaceX? Yes, Robinhood will launch tokens tied to private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX.

Robinhood launches tokens allowing EU users to trade in US stocks - The Economic Times

The commission-free tokens can be traded around-the-clock, five days a week. Robinhood also plans to offer tokens linked to stocks of privately-held companies, starting with Sam Altman's OpenAI and Elon Musk's SpaceX, the trading platform's top executives said at its keynote event in France.Robinhood said on Monday it has launched tokens that will allow its customers in the European Union to trade more than 200 US stocks and exchange-traded funds, including Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft. The commission-free tokens can be traded around-the-clock, five days a week. Robinhood also plans to offer tokens linked to stocks of privately-held companies, starting with Sam Altman's OpenAI and Elon Musk's SpaceX, the trading platform's top executives said at its keynote event in France. Robinhood's shares hit a record high and were last up nearly 10%. The tokens will be issued through a partnership with blockchain firm Arbitrum. With the move, the company stands to benefit from rising global interest in the U.S. stock market - home to some of the world's most influential tech giants and leading beneficiaries of the AI boom. Tokenized equities mix traditional finance with crypto-like trading, and have been gaining traction among international investors due to better access, flexible trading hours and lower costs. Experts believe such tokens could dramatically alter the securities investing landscape, though they currently lack regulatory clarity in the United States. Menlo Park, California-based Robinhood plans to eventually develop its own blockchain that will expand trading hours for tokens to 24/7 from 24/5 currently. The company will also expand the number of available stock tokens to "thousands" by the end of the year, Tenev said at the event. "Tokenization is going to open the door to a massive trading revolution," he said. Last month, crypto exchange Kraken also launched equities-linked tokens for non-U.S. investors. Expanding crypto tools Robinhood also announced several new product offerings, including crypto perpetual futures for its EU customers and staking for U.S. users. The perpetual futures will allow users to make leveraged bets on the prices of cryptocurrencies. Unlike traditional futures, they have no expiry date. Rival Coinbase will also begin offering similar tools to U.S. customers from next month. Meanwhile, staking lets customers lock up their cryptocurrency to help validate transactions on the blockchain, earning rewards in return. The practice had been controversial in recent years, until the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff last month said some forms of staking are not securities offerings.

Robinhood Just Made Crypto Simpler -- And Way More Powerful - Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD)

Robinhood Markets HOOD has made a significant push into crypto, unveiling a suite of innovative products during its event in Cannes, France. The company revealed a range of new tools designed to make investing more accessible and intuitive. As part of its global expansion strategy, Robinhood is extending its services to over 400 million people across 30 countries in the EU and EEA. The stock gained after the update. Also Read: Robinhood Stock Falls After Analysts Cite Weak Crypto Volumes And Market Headwinds In Q2 Outlook The new offerings include stock and ETF tokens, now available in the EU. These tokens allow users to gain exposure to U.S. equities through Robinhood Stock Tokens. These tokens come with zero commissions and offer dividend support alongside 24/5 access. With this launch, Robinhood's European app transitions from a solely crypto-focused app to a comprehensive investment platform powered by crypto, marking a significant expansion. Vlad Tenev, Robinhood's chairman and CEO, emphasized the company's aim to lay the groundwork for crypto to serve as the backbone of the global financial system. Additionally, Johann Kerbrat, GM and SVP of Robinhood Crypto, highlighted that crypto was initially built for engineers and hasn't been easily accessible to most people. "We're onboarding the world to crypto by making it as easy to use as possible," said Kerbrat. Robinhood has also introduced crypto perpetual futures to the EU, offering up to 3x leverage for eligible users. This launch is designed to provide active traders with more sophisticated tools in a user-friendly environment. Furthermore, the company is launching crypto staking in the U.S., beginning with Ethereum ETH/USD and Solana SOL/USD, allowing customers to participate in blockchain ecosystems and earn competitive rewards. Get StartedTrade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and More Instantly -- No Wallets, No Hassle Speculate on price movements, claim up to $200 in bonuses, and start with risk-free paper trading with crypto futures on Plus500. Get StartedDisclosure: 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money The expanded product suite includes features such as an instant boost on crypto deposits, a new credit card offering cashback that can be used to buy crypto, and a Cortex AI-powered assistant that helps users understand market trends. Smart Exchange Routing will also help users get the best price for crypto trades by evaluating multiple exchanges. Additionally, Robinhood has unveiled its upcoming Layer 2 blockchain, built on Arbitrum. This blockchain will enable seamless trading and self-custody and power tokenized stocks and real-world assets in the future. Robinhood Markets stock is up 131% year-to-date. Robinhood reported first-quarter earnings of 37 cents per share in April, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 32 cents. Quarterly revenue of $927 million (up from $618 million a year ago) beat the analyst consensus estimate of $922.53 million. Transaction-based revenues increased 77% to $583 million as Cryptocurrency revenue of $252 million ( up 100% Y/Y), Options revenue of $240 million (up 56% Y/Y), and Equities revenue of $56 million (up 44% Y/Y). Price Action: HOOD stock is trading 10.5% higher at $91.82 as of last check on Monday. Read Next: Nvidia Is Acquiring Its Way Into AI Photo: Shutterstock HOODRobinhood Markets Inc$91.3610.0%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum98.38Growth95.87QualityNot AvailableValue12.24Price TrendShortMediumLongOverview$ETHEthereum$2475.95-1.00%$SOLSolana$156.782.24%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

What Are Stock Tokens And How To Trade Them? Robinhood's New Offering Merges Owning Stocks With Blockchain Tech: Here's How It Works - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD)

Robinhood Markets Inc. HOOD has launched Stock Tokens, a groundbreaking offering that blends traditional stock market investing with blockchain technology, now available to European Union customers. Get StartedTrade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and More Instantly -- No Wallets, No Hassle Speculate on price movements, claim up to $200 in bonuses, and start with risk-free paper trading with crypto futures on Plus500. Get StartedDisclosure: 82% of retail CFD accounts lose moneyWhat Are Stock Tokens? These tokens, derivatives tracked on the blockchain, mirror the prices of over 200 U.S. stocks and ETFs, including giants like Nvidia Corp. NVDA, Apple Inc. AAPL, and Microsoft Corp. MSFT, providing exposure to the U.S. market without owning the actual stocks. How And When Can EU Users Trade Stock Tokens? To trade, users must sign up, provide a tax identification number, complete a knowledge check, and agree to the terms. Stock Tokens are accessible via the Explore tab on Robinhood's app, where users can search by ticker or name, place buy or sell orders in quantities or EUR values, and review orders on the Stock Token Detail Page. Funds from sales are available for trading instantly but require a one-business-day hold for withdrawals. What Are The Charges To Trade Stock Tokens? Stock Tokens are traded in USD but automatically converted from euros with a minimal 0.10% FX fee, ensuring no hidden costs or commissions. Investors can start with just €1, trade 24/5 from Monday 2 a.m. CET/CEST to Saturday 2 a.m. CET/CEST, and even earn dividends when eligible. The tokens, issued via Arbitrum and soon Robinhood's own Layer 2 blockchain, are held securely by a U.S.-licensed institution under MiFID II regulations. How Do Corporate Actions Affect Stock Tokens? Corporate actions like stock splits, mergers, or dividends affect tokens, with Robinhood handling adjustments automatically. Trading may pause during such events, with notifications via banners or pop-ups. While offering flexibility and low costs, Stock Tokens carry risks, including potential capital loss, requiring users to assess their risk tolerance during onboarding. Can Investors Trade Private Companies Via Stock Tokens? Robinhood's initiative, including tokenized private company shares like OpenAI and SpaceX, aims to democratize finance, leveraging blockchain for transparency and accessibility. With plans to expand to thousands of tokens by year-end, Robinhood is poised to reshape global investing See Also: Robinhood Just Made Crypto Simpler -- And Way More Powerful Price Action: HOOD shares were up 3.12% in after-hours on Monday after ending 12.77% higher at $93.63 apiece. It has risen by 137.40% on a year-to-date basis and 310.84% over the past year. Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that HOOD had a stronger price trend over the short, medium, and long term. Its momentum ranking was solid; however, its value ranking was poor at the 10.90th percentile. The details of other metrics are available here. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF QQQ, which track the S&P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended higher on Monday. The SPY was up 0.48% at $617.85, while the QQQ advanced 0.65% to $551.64, according to Benzinga Pro data. After hitting fresh records on Friday and Monday, the futures of the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones indices were trading lower on Tuesday. Read Next: Raoul Pal Says Robinhood Letting Users Trade OpenAI, SpaceX Through Blockchain Is 'Democratization Of Finance' -- End Of Public Vs Private Markets Has Begun Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: dennizn / Shutterstock.com AAPLApple Inc$205.420.12%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum24.98Growth32.19Quality75.95Value9.25Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewHOODRobinhood Markets Inc$96.072.61%MSFTMicrosoft Corp$498.490.22%NVDANVIDIA Corp$157.16-0.53%QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1$550.59-0.19%SPYSPDR S&P 500$617.00-0.14%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Robinhood launches tokens allowing EU users to trade in US stocks

(Reuters) -Robinhood said on Monday it has launched tokens that will allow its customers in the European Union to trade more than 200 U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds, including Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft. The commission-free tokens can be traded around-the-clock, five days a week, the trading platform said on Monday. They will be issued through a partnership with blockchain firm Arbitrum. With the move, Robinhood stands to benefit from rising global interest in the U.S. stock market - home to some of the world's most influential tech giants and leading beneficiaries of the AI boom. Tokenized equities mix traditional finance with crypto-like trading, and have been gaining traction among international investors due to the better access, flexible trading hours and lower costs. Experts believe such tokens could dramatically alter the securities investing landscape. In a January opinion piece for The Washington Post, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev wrote tokenization could also open the door for retail investors to access private companies' stocks. Menlo Park, California-based Robinhood plans to eventually develop its own blockchain that will expand trading hours for tokens to 24/7 from 24/5 currently, it said. Last month, crypto exchange Kraken also launched equities-linked tokens for non-U.S. investors. EXPANDING CRYPTO TOOLS Robinhood also announced several new product offerings, including crypto perpetual futures for its EU customers and staking for U.S. users. The perpetual futures will allow users to make leveraged bets on the prices of cryptocurrencies. Unlike traditional futures, they have no expiry date. Rival Coinbase will also begin offering similar tools to U.S. customers from next month. Meanwhile, staking lets customers lock up their cryptocurrency to help validate transactions on the blockchain, earning rewards in return. The practice had been controversial in recent years, until the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff last month said some forms of staking are not securities offerings. (Reporting by Niket Nishant and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

Robinhood takes from Americans to give to Europeans

Robinhood, the cryptocurrency exchange and trading platform, is launching a new offering: tokenized US stocks. The idea is to simplify access to the US market for European investors, while allowing these tokens, backed by major US companies, to be traded 24 hours a day, five days a week. On Monday Robinhood announced the launch of digital tokens allowing its European Union customers to invest in over 200 US-listed stocks and funds, including Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. These tokenized securities, which can be traded commission-free, will be available 24 hours a day, five days a week. This initiative marks a major step forward in the integration of traditional finance with blockchain technology, which aims to attract an international clientele which is increasingly eager to access the US stockmarket giants, which are the main beneficiaries of the rise of artificial intelligence. Robinhood said the tokens would be issued in partnership with Arbitrum, a blockchain company. The announcement sent Robinhood's stock to a record high, rising nearly 10% during trading. The platform also plans to issue tokens backed by shares in unlisted companies, starting with OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, and SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. The announcement was made at a company event held in France. "The tokenization phenomenon will pave the way for a massive revolution in trading," said CEO Vlad Tenev. Robinhood plans to expand its token offering to "thousands" of securities by the end of the year. In the longer term, the Menlo Park, California-based company plans to create its own blockchain to extend the trading of its tokens to continuous availability, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from five days at present. Stock tokens are attracting more and more international investors, who are drawn by greater accessibility, extended trading hours, and lower fees. However, in the United States, these products remain in a regulatory gray area, with no clearly defined legal framework. In Europe, Robinhood has obtained a brokerage license in Lithuania and is developing its blockchain activities following the acquisition of Bitstamp, a MiFID-licensed cryptocurrency exchange platform that allows it to offer financial instruments such as tokens backed by US stocks. Everything seems to be in place for Robinhood to offer its new service. Robinhood is not alone in this niche: in May, the Kraken platform also launched stock-backed tokens for non-US investors. At the same time, Robinhood has announced several new features for its crypto customers. European users will have access to perpetual futures contracts on cryptocurrencies, allowing them to speculate with leverage on the prices of digital assets. Unlike traditional futures contracts, these products have no expiry date. Robinhood will also offer "staking" to its US customers. This practice involves locking up cryptocurrencies to validate transactions on the blockchain in exchange for rewards. Long controversial, it has recently gained legitimacy after the SEC ruled last month that certain forms of staking do not constitute offers of securities. Coinbase, one of Robinhood's main competitors, plans to launch similar tools for its US customers as early as next month.