03.07.2025 08:45

Robinhood, previously known primarily as a brokerage, has unveiled ambitious plans to evolve into a comprehensive next-generation financial super app. This strategic shift was announced at the Ethereum Community Conference (ETHCC) in Cannes, a significant development highlighting the company's expansion beyond traditional brokerage services.

Central to this transformation is Robinhood's launch of tokenized shares for select private companies, including prominent names like SpaceX and OpenAI. This initiative, according to CEO Vlad Tenev, will initially provide eligible European Union customers with access to these previously inaccessible high-growth equity investments. The rollout, commencing this summer, represents a significant leap forward in democratizing private equity market access.

Specifically, the initial offering of tokenized OpenAI shares will leverage Arbitrum, a reputable Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution renowned for its speed and cost-effectiveness. However, Robinhood’s long-term vision involves migrating these and future offerings to its own proprietary blockchain, reflecting its commitment to building its own decentralized infrastructure.

While the ETHCC announcement highlighted SpaceX and OpenAI, Robinhood had already quietly introduced tokenized trading for over 200 US-listed stocks and ETFs to its European clientele in June 2024. These too are issued on Arbitrum, offering the convenience of 24/7 trading capabilities and showcasing the company's gradual implementation of this innovative trading approach. This earlier rollout provides a solid foundation upon which to build its expansion into tokenized private company shares, creating a more comprehensive and dynamic offering.