Solana Back on Top in Tokenized Equities

RWA Signal Insight
StocksSolana has reclaimed the top spot for tokenized equity trading volume, capturing approximately 31 percent of the weekly market share across all blockchains. This shift follows a six-week lead by Robinhood's blockchain, with BNB Chain and Base trailing at 26 and 18 percent respectively. Despite the high volume, the article emphasizes that these tokens are not direct equity ownership but rather tracker certificates or bearer notes issued by companies like Backed Finance. This legal distinction is critical for investors, as it dictates tax treatment, insolvency protections, and regulatory compliance under frameworks like MiFID II. Because these products are financial instruments rather than crypto-assets, they fall outside the scope of MiCA, requiring providers to hold investment firm authorizations to serve retail clients. The market remains fragmented, with significant differences in investor protection between regulated platforms and decentralized exchanges like Raydium. Ultimately, the report warns that the lack of voting rights and varying dividend structures make these tokens distinct from traditional shares, necessitating careful review of base prospectuses.
Key points
- Solana leads tokenized equity volume with 31% share, surpassing BNB Chain and Robinhood.
- Tokenized equities are legally structured as tracker certificates or bearer notes, not direct shares.
- MiFID II, not MiCA, governs these instruments, requiring specific investment firm licensing for retail access.
- Most Solana-based equity trading occurs on the decentralized exchange Raydium, lacking traditional investor safeguards.
Background
Tokenized equities are digital representations of traditional stocks that track the price performance of the underlying asset. These products are typically issued as derivative certificates or notes, where the issuer promises to pay the holder an amount equivalent to the share price. They are designed to provide 24/7 trading access and fractional ownership, often utilizing blockchain infrastructure to settle transactions outside of traditional stock exchange hours.