Fintech giant Robinhood made waves at its "To Catch a Token" keynote in Cannes today, unveiling a suite of groundbreaking financial products. The announcements include tokenized stocks, perpetual futures, crypto staking, and the development of its own Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain.
Tokenized Stocks: Democratizing Access to Global Markets
Robinhood is introducing tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs for European traders, with over 200 initial offerings expected to expand to 2,000 by 2025. These tokens will:
- Represent fractional ownership of traditional securities
- Pay dividends directly to users' Robinhood accounts
- Initially launch on Arbitrum before migrating to Robinhood's proprietary L2 blockchain
"Tokenization will spark a trading revolution by making previously inaccessible assets available to everyone," said CEO Vlad Tenev during the Cannes event.
In a market-first move, Robinhood will also offer tokenized shares of private companies like OpenAI and SpaceX exclusively to European users.
👉 Discover how tokenization is reshaping finance
Robinhood Chain: A Permissionless Layer 2 Solution
The upcoming Robinhood Chain will feature:
- Ethereum compatibility
- Permissionless architecture
- Expected 2025 launch
Developed using Arbitrum's tech stack, this blockchain aims to bridge traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems.
Perpetual Futures Launch for European Clients
Robinhood is rolling out crypto perpetual futures with:
- Up to 3x leverage
- European-exclusive access initially
- Planned full launch by summer's end
Orders will route through Bitstamp's infrastructure, which Robinhood recently acquired. The service operates under Robinhood's new MiCA license, enabling expansion across 31 EU countries.
U.S. Market Offerings
While awaiting regulatory approval for tokenized products stateside, Robinhood is enhancing its U.S. platform with:
- ETH and SOL staking
- Smart exchange routing for better pricing
- Advanced charting tools
- Tax lot optimization features
The All-in-One Investment Platform Evolution
Robinhood's product manager Seong Seog Lee described the platform's transformation into "an all-in-one investment product powered by crypto" that will eventually offer:
- 24/7 stock token trading
- Self-custody capabilities
- Potential DeFi integrations for traditional assets
This move reflects the accelerating convergence between crypto and traditional finance, following similar initiatives by Dinari and Coinbase.
Robinhood's Remarkable Growth
Key metrics demonstrate the platform's explosive growth:
- $255 billion in assets under administration
- 200% YoY increase in retirement account usage
- $14.4 billion in assets under custody
- HOOD stock up 290% over past year
- $76 billion market capitalization
👉 Explore Robinhood's financial revolution
FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered
Q: When will Robinhood's tokenized stocks be available?
A: European users can access initial offerings now, with full rollout expected by 2025.
Q: Can U.S. customers trade perpetual futures?
A: Not currently, but Robinhood is pursuing regulatory approval for U.S. offerings.
Q: What makes tokenized stocks different?
A: They enable fractional ownership, 24/7 trading, and potential DeFi integration while maintaining traditional security benefits.
Q: How does Robinhood Chain differ from other L2 solutions?
A: It's specifically optimized for financial products with permissionless access and Ethereum compatibility.
Q: Are the private company shares available worldwide?
A: Currently limited to European users due to regulatory considerations.
Q: What staking options are available?
A: U.S. users can stake Ethereum and Solana directly through the Robinhood app.