A new era of Web3 investing might just be starting—with Robinhood leading the charge.

Europe First: Tokenized Stocks Go Live

At its Cannes event, Robinhood announced tokenized US stocks trading on its European app. Early tokens include Apple (AAPL-t), Tesla (TSLA-t), OpenAI, and SpaceX. The company buys real shares via regulated brokerage, holds them in custody, then issues 1:1 backed tokens on Ethereum’s Layer-2 network Arbitrum.

This “on-chain settlement + off-chain trading” model lets Robinhood control pricing while using blockchain transparency to prove asset backing.

Built on Arbitrum , Moving to Own L2

Robinhood started on Arbitrum to solve cost and scalability issues but plans to migrate token issuance and trading to its own Layer-2 chain. This will improve speed, lower fees, and provide more control, paving the way for mass tokenized stock and private share issuance.

Market Buzz: Stocks and Tokens Surge

Robinhood’s stock jumped 12–13% after the announcement, reaching record highs with a 150% YTD gain. Arbitrum also saw a single-day price spike of up to 17%, reflecting excitement around L2 and tokenized securities.

Onchain Brokerage Competition Heats Up

Alongside Robinhood, Kraken and Bybit launched 24/7 tokenized stock trading the same day. The race to blend traditional finance with blockchain is intensifying. Success will depend on tech, compliance, user experience, and global liquidity. Robinhood’s L2 strategy will be key to watch.

What’s Next for Tokenized Stocks?

Robinhood’s move signals a deeper merge between crypto and traditional markets. Yet, scaling globally requires overcoming regulatory, technological, and adoption challenges. Could tokenized stocks change how we trade and invest forever?