Robinhood launches stock trading tokens in EU, unveils new blockchain plan

Trading app operator Robinhood Markets has launched digital tokens for US stocks and ETFs, for customers in the EU.

It will allow eligible investors to trade over 200 US equities using blockchain technologies,

Robinhood customers will be able to exchange such tokens '24/5', not just when the real-world markets are open.

The trading tokens will initially be issued on the Arbitrum blockchain.

Robinhood, meanwhile, said it is also developing a proprietary Layer 2 blockchain which will support real-world asset tokenization, 24/7 trading, bridging and self-custody.

If it catches on, it could be one of the biggest changes in the mechanics of asset trading since the popularisation of dematerialised equity trading (switching from share certification to widespread electronic clearing through the 1980s).

Vlad Tenev, Robinhood chair, reckons the app's latest offerings "lay the groundwork for crypto to become the backbone of the global financial system”.

Johann Kerbrat SVP for Robinhood Crypto, who describes crypto as 'built by engineers for engineers, expects the app's token trading can make it more accessible.

“We’re onboarding the world to crypto by making it as easy to use as possible—with the goal of bringing powerful tools into one intuitive platform," Kerbrat said in a statement.

Robinhood, meanwhile, added that crypto perpetual futures (available with upo to 3 times leverage) will also be introduced on the app to customers in the EU, to all eligible customers by the end of the summer.

It noted that the orders will be routed through the exchange at Bitstamp, acquired by Robinhood earlier this month.

And, in the United States, Robinhood is making available staking services for Ethereum and Solana (they are already available in the EU and EEA).