Robinhood CEO named three benefits of tokenized stocks for American investors

cryptonews.ruPublicado em 2026-08-19Última atualização em 2026-08-19

Resumo

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev advocates for the U.S. to allow trading of tokenized stocks domestically. He argues this model could modernize the financial system through three key benefits: **faster, near real-time settlements** reducing counterparty risk and broker capital requirements; **24/7 trading** enabling reaction to market events anytime; and **greater asset portability**, allowing tokens to be moved between platforms and held in self-custody wallets, increasing competition among services. Tenev emphasized tokenization is about rebuilding asset ownership infrastructure for freer movement, similar to information online. He highlighted potential integration with DeFi, where tokenized stocks could be used for lending or as collateral. Currently, Robinhood's stock tokens are not direct ownership of the underlying securities but are backed by them and provide access to economic value like dividends; their structure may evolve with future regulations. Tenev identified outdated securities laws and market infrastructure, developed over a century, as the main U.S. obstacle, urging regulators to adapt rules for blockchain while preserving investor protections. He warned it would be strange if the rest of the world could build the future of ownership around U.S. assets while Americans are left behind, suggesting tokenization could later expand to private company shares and other illiquid assets.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev believes the United States should allow trading of tokenized stocks domestically. He stated that such a model could make settlements faster, enable 24/7 trading, and give investors more control over their assets.

The Robinhood CEO believes that moving stocks onto a blockchain could change not only how they are stored but the very infrastructure of the stock market. In particular, he highlighted three benefits:

  • Faster settlements. Tokenized stocks can be transferred and settled for trades almost in real-time. This, according to Tenev, reduces risks between trade execution and final settlement and lessens brokers' need to hold large cash reserves;
  • 24/7 trading. Unlike the traditional stock market, tokenized stocks could trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This allows for reacting to events that occur on weekends or after exchange hours;
  • More free movement of assets. Tokens can be transferred between different platforms and stored in one's own crypto wallet. Tenev believes this will increase competition among financial services, as it will be easier for users to move their assets.

"Tokenization is the best path to modernize the American financial system and expand the dream of property ownership for everyone, including Americans. Tokenization is not about simply moving stocks onto a blockchain for the sake of blockchain. Instead, we are rebuilding the infrastructure underlying asset ownership so they can move as freely as information on the internet," Tenev emphasized.

Robinhood wants to combine tokenized stocks and DeFi

Separately, Tenev highlighted the possibility of self-custody for tokenized stocks. He stated that users will be able to hold such assets in their own wallets, and developers could create new financial services based on them.

Among possible scenarios, he mentioned lending and using tokenized stocks as collateral in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.

At the same time, Tenev acknowledged that the current Robinhood stock tokens do not represent direct ownership of the underlying securities. They are backed by corresponding stocks and provide access to their economic value, including dividends.

He said the structure of such tokens could change in the future, particularly after the formation of an appropriate regulatory framework.

Tenev urged American regulators to change the rules

In the view of the Robinhood head, the main obstacle to launching tokenized stocks in the US is not technology, but current legislation and the stock market infrastructure. He noted that American securities rules have been formed over more than a century and largely reflect the technologies and market structure of the past.

Tenev called on regulators to preserve investor protection mechanisms, but also adapt the rules to blockchain technology.

"It would be strange if the rest of the world could build the future of ownership around American assets, while Americans themselves are left on the sidelines," he stated.

According to Tenev, public stocks could be just the first step in a broader tokenization of financial assets. In the future, this infrastructure could be used for assets with limited access and low liquidity, such as shares of private companies.

Recall that at the beginning of 2026, the Robinhood CEO called the inaccessibility of staking for some Americans a dead end in US crypto policy.

Perguntas relacionadas

QWhat are the three main advantages of tokenized stocks mentioned by Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev?

AThe three main advantages are: 1) Faster settlements, allowing near real-time transfers and reducing risks between trade execution and final settlement. 2) 24/7 trading, enabling investors to react to events outside traditional market hours. 3) Greater portability of assets, as tokens can be moved between platforms and stored in self-custody wallets, increasing competition among financial services.

QHow does Vlad Tenev propose tokenization could integrate with DeFi (Decentralized Finance)?

AHe suggests that tokenized stocks could enable users to hold assets in their own wallets. Developers could then build new financial services on top of them, such as using tokenized stocks for lending or as collateral within DeFi protocols.

QAccording to the article, what is the current primary obstacle to launching tokenized stocks in the United States?

AThe primary obstacle is not technology, but existing legislation and the legacy infrastructure of the stock market. Tenev argues that U.S. securities regulations, developed over a century, are based on past market structures and technologies.

QWhat future application of tokenization infrastructure does Vlad Tenev envision beyond public stocks?

AHe envisions that this tokenization infrastructure could later be used for assets with restricted access and low liquidity, such as shares of private companies.

QWhat key distinction does Tenev make about Robinhood's current tokenized stocks regarding direct ownership?

AHe acknowledges that Robinhood's current tokenized stocks do not represent direct ownership of the underlying securities. They are backed by the corresponding shares and provide access to their economic value (e.g., dividends), with the structure potentially evolving as regulations develop.

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