Robinhood Plans Blockchain Stock Platform for Europeans

Robinhood is developing a blockchain-based platform aimed at enabling European retail investors to trade tokenized U.S. stocks, exploring partnerships with digital asset firms and considering public blockchains such as Arbitrum, Solana, and possibly Ethereum. The project seeks to leverage blockchain technology for faster settlement, lower costs, and improved transparency in trading U.S. equities. Following its recent acquisition of a brokerage license in Lithuania and a pending deal to acquire crypto exchange Bitstamp, Robinhood aims to expand its European offerings beyond crypto trading. The company’s Q1 earnings have shown a dependence on crypto activity, and declining trading volumes have prompted Robinhood to diversify with initiatives like the blockchain platform. CEO Vlad Tenev remains a strong advocate for tokenized securities but has criticized unclear U.S. regulations for impeding adoption. The platform remains in early development, with no final decisions made on technology partners or a launch timeline.