Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev is calling on U.S. regulators to create a legal framework for tokenized stocks to enable continuous trading [1, 2].
This push represents a significant attempt to modernize the American financial system. If adopted, tokenization would shift stock trading from traditional business hours to a 24/7 model, removing the delays associated with current settlement cycles.
Tenev said that tokenized stocks would allow for real-time settlement, which would eliminate the waiting period currently required to finalize trades [1, 2]. He said that overseas markets are already advancing in this area, potentially leaving the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage [1].
The effort follows a series of strategic expansions by the brokerage. On July 1, 2026, Robinhood held an event in London to announce the launch of a public blockchain designed to support tokenized stocks [3]. This move signals the company's intent to integrate traditional equity markets with decentralized ledger technology.
Currently, the Robinhood platform serves approximately 27 million users [4]. The integration of blockchain-based assets could fundamentally change how this user base interacts with the stock market, moving away from legacy clearinghouses toward an on-chain system.
Tenev said that current U.S. regulatory rules act as a barrier to these innovations [1]. By clearing a path for tokenization, the CEO said the U.S. can maintain its status as a global financial hub while adopting the efficiency of the "tokenization supercycle" [2].
The transition to tokenized equities would require a shift in how ownership is recorded and how securities are regulated at the federal level. While the technology exists, the legal infrastructure to support public blockchain-based stocks in the U.S. remains unresolved [1, 2].
“Tokenized stocks would allow for real-time settlement.”
The move toward tokenized stocks represents a convergence of traditional finance and decentralized technology. By pushing for 24/7 trading and instant settlement, Robinhood is challenging the T+1 settlement standard and the traditional operating hours of the NYSE and Nasdaq. If regulators concede, it could lead to a systemic shift in market liquidity and a reduction in the role of traditional intermediaries.
