Binance Expands US Stock Access, Plans Tokenized Stocks

Binance Launches Stock Trading Platform

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has launched a platform offering access to over 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs, with plans to allow users to convert these shares into blockchain tokens.

The company is offering zero-commission trades to non-U.S. customers and fractional purchases starting at $5, as part of its goal to build a “multi-asset financial super app,” according to co-CEO Richard Teng.

Share purchases will be facilitated through broker-dealer Nest Trading, with New York-based Alpaca Securities providing custody, dividend distribution, and corporate action services. Purchases will be supported via USDC, USDT, BNB, and other digital assets.

Tokenization Plans

Binance plans to introduce “bStocks,” a feature that will allow users to tokenize the equities they buy by minting synthetic versions on its BNB blockchain. The company stated that this feature, expected in the coming weeks, will enable customers to initiate the tokenization process themselves.

Market Implications

Ivan Patriki, co-founder of analytics platform Quantmap, noted that large crypto exchanges are entering the stock market to reduce their dependence on market cycles. Binance aims to retain user balances within its platform, preventing users from switching to traditional brokers for assets like Tesla shares or the S&P 500.

Misha Putiatin, co-founder of collateral markets platform Symbiotic, believes tokenized stocks could drive broader adoption of Real World Assets (RWA) in the crypto space. He suggests that tokenized equities could integrate with decentralized finance (DeFi), supporting lending, collateral, and other yield-generating products.

Vytautas Mackonis, COO of Swiss-based RWA protocol ALCUM, cautioned that Binance’s stock offering is structurally complex, involving multiple parties and creating operational risks. He noted that the growth of tokenized stocks is currently limited by fragmented regulations, limited secondary-market liquidity, and the lack of a consistent legal framework.

Regulatory and Market Context

The SEC recently delayed a planned “innovation exemption” for tokenized assets, citing concerns about third-party tokens.

Patriki raised questions about the new model, including redeemability guarantees, synchronization of token prices with underlying stocks, and regulatory responses to the use of tokenized assets as DeFi collateral. He believes the shift will create a hybrid market where brokers, exchanges, banks, and blockchain platforms compete for user balances.

Binance previously expanded its tokenization efforts by offering tokenized assets through Ondo Finance on its Binance Alpha platform.

Competitors are also strengthening their tokenization strategies. Coinbase integrated Yahoo Finance tickers, while Kraken launched regulated tokenized equity perpetual futures and partnered with Nasdaq to develop tokenized equities.

According to rwa.xyz data, daily trading volume across tokenized stocks and ETFs has reached $1.68 billion, up 39% over the past month, with monthly transfer volume hitting $3.63 billion, up 36%, and holders rising 31% to 292,590.