The world’s largest cryptocurrency platform by trading volume has launched a stock-trading feature for users outside the United States, offering access to more than 7,000 U.S.-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with zero commissions and fractional share purchases starting at $5.
How the new stock service works
Users can fund stock purchases with several digital assets, including USDC, USDT, and the platform’s native token BNB, directly linking crypto balances with U.S. equity markets.
Execution of stock trades is handled by broker-dealer Nest Trading, while New York-based Alpaca is responsible for securities custody, dividend distribution, and processing corporate actions.
Co-chief executive Teng said the move is designed to open access to U.S. equities, which represent more than half of global equity market capitalization but remain restricted or costly to access in many regions. The company framed the rollout as a step toward narrowing that accessibility gap.
Launch of bStocks and tokenized equities
Alongside the stock offering, the company plans to introduce “bStocks,” a feature that will let users convert their equity holdings into tokenized assets on the platform’s own blockchain.
These tokenized shares are expected to settle almost instantly, in contrast with the traditional T+1 or longer settlement cycle still used for most stock trades. Faster settlement is intended to reduce counterparty risk and free up capital that would otherwise be locked during the clearing period.
The platform’s design includes a self-service process for creating tokenized shares, allowing users and issuers to bring a wider range of equities on-chain. The company said these tokens will be compatible with decentralized finance (DeFi) applications such as lending protocols and liquidity pools, enabling stock-based collateral and new forms of yield strategies.
Rapid growth in tokenized asset markets
Tokenized equities reached a record daily trading volume of $3.57 billion on May 19, with most activity concentrated on two major platforms, according to market data.
More broadly, tokenized real-world assets have expanded from $5.42 billion at the start of 2025 to more than $33 billion by mid-May 2026. Tokenized equities alone passed $1 billion in market capitalization in March 2026, up sharply from about $20 million at the end of 2024.
Other platforms, including Kraken and Robinhood, have introduced on-chain stock products over the past year. The company said its approach differs by allowing users to initiate tokenization directly and use the resulting tokens across DeFi ecosystems, rather than keeping them within a closed environment.
Linking stablecoins to U.S. equity markets
By enabling stock purchases with major stablecoins and other digital assets, the new stock channel connects the nearly $300 billion stablecoin market to U.S. stock markets, which now carry a market capitalization above $75 trillion.
This tighter linkage could change liquidity flows across both traditional and digital markets, making it easier for capital to shift between stablecoins and U.S. equities with fewer intermediaries and lower friction.
Regulatory backdrop and risk management
The company previously offered tokenized stocks but shut that program down in 2021 after regulators in several jurisdictions raised concerns. The new structure, with licensed firms handling brokerage and custody, appears designed to respond to earlier compliance issues.
However, the legal treatment of digital securities remains unsettled in many countries, and the company acknowledged that navigating these rules continues to be complex for all market operators.
In the United States, regulators recently paused work on a proposed “innovation exemption” that was expected to give domestic platforms clearer guidelines for offering tokenized equities. That delay primarily affects U.S.-based exchanges, while offshore platforms continue to operate under existing, often fragmented, regulatory frameworks.
Strategic shift toward a financial “super app”
This is the company’s largest equity-market push since its 2021 retreat from tokenized stocks. The platform re-entered the space in February by listing ten U.S. stocks and ETFs through a partnership with Ondo Finance, a move that laid the groundwork for the current expansion.
The new services support Teng’s stated strategy to turn the platform into a multipurpose financial “super app” that combines traditional securities, crypto assets, and on-chain financial services in a single ecosystem for global traders.
Curious about tokenized stocks and DeFi integration? Deepen your understanding with our guide on tokenized equities today.
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