David Edwards
Robinhood, the U.S.-based fintech brokerage, is reportedly working on a blockchain network designed to allow European retail investors to trade tokenized versions of U.S. securities. The move marks a strategic expansion aimed at reshaping cross-border equity trading through blockchain technology.
The network will improve speed, accessibility, and efficiency by allowing users in the European Union to access U.S. stocks through digital tokens, according to sources quoted in a May 7 Bloomberg report. Although no official agreements have been reached, the company is presently in talks with two potential candidates to support the blockchain infrastructure: the Solana Foundation and the cryptocurrency networks Arbitrum.
Compared to conventional trading platforms, tokenization—the act of transforming physical assets like stocks into digital tokens based on blockchain technology—offers a number of benefits. These consist of decreased operational expenses, quicker settlement times, and less dependence on middlemen. Leveraging these advantages to help Europe’s expanding investor base is the goal of Robinhood’s blockchain project.
The program comes after Robinhood obtained a brokerage license in Lithuania in April 2025, which enables it to conduct lawful business across the EU. Additionally, it expands on its 2024 acquisition of Bitstamp, a cryptocurrency exchange, indicating a stronger commitment to digital assets and European growth.
In a recent interview, CEO Vladimir Tenev contrasted the simplicity of launching a digital token with the complexity of taking a company public: “You can sit down in front of some software, create a coin and have it be trading in five minutes […] That’s a scary thing. It’s also an incredibly powerful thing.”
On May 7, Robinhood’s stock increased 2.7% even though its Q1 sales fell 8.6%, still exceeding Wall Street’s forecasts.
