Robinhood launch tokens enabling customers in the EU to trade US stocks and exchange-traded funds
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Robinhood has launched tokens that enable its customers in the European Union to trade over 200 US stocks and exchange-traded funds, including prominent names such as Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. These commission-free tokens can be traded around the clock, five days a week. The trading platform is also planning to introduce tokens linked to stocks of privately-held companies, starting with Sam Altman's OpenAI and Elon Musk's SpaceX, according to its top executives at a keynote event in France. Following the announcement, Robinhood's shares surged to a record high, with a nearly 10% increase. The tokens are being issued through a partnership with blockchain firm Arbitrum. This development is poised to capitalize on the growing global interest in the US stock market, which is home to some of the world's most influential tech giants and leading beneficiaries of the AI boom. Tokenized equities combine traditional finance with crypto-like trading and have gained popularity among international investors due to better access, flexible trading hours, and lower costs. Experts believe that such tokens could significantly alter the securities investing landscape, although they currently lack regulatory clarity in the United States. Robinhood, based in Menlo Park, California, plans to eventually develop its own blockchain, which will expand trading hours for tokens to 24/7 from the current 24/5. The company also plans to expand the number of available stock tokens to "thousands" by the end of the year, according to Tenev's statement 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-US investors. In addition to the token launch, Robinhood also announced several new product offerings, including...