Tokenized Stocks: Custody & Counterparty Risks (2026 Guide)
Stocks
Bitget has introduced Stocks 2.0, a tokenized equity model designed to bridge traditional finance and crypto by providing 1:1 economic exposure to U.S. stocks. The platform utilizes Reality, a regulated issuance platform, to ensure that every rToken is fully collateralized by real securities held in segregated custody accounts. These underlying assets are managed by FINRA-registered, SIPC-member broker-dealers with final registration at the DTCC. To mitigate counterparty and custody risks, the model features independently verifiable onchain reserve ratios maintained above 100%. Investors receive economic benefits such as price performance and stablecoin-denominated dividends, though they hold a contractual beneficial interest rather than direct legal ownership. By integrating Proof of Asset dashboards and third-party attestation, the initiative aims to increase transparency in the tokenized stock market. This structure highlights the critical importance of understanding the layered relationships between issuers, custodians, and brokers in the RWA ecosystem.
Key points
- ▸Bitget Stocks 2.0 uses Reality to provide 1:1 economic mapping for tokenized equities.
- ▸Underlying securities are held in segregated accounts via FINRA-registered, SIPC-member broker-dealers.
- ▸Reserve ratios are maintained above 100% and are independently verifiable via onchain Proof of Asset.
- ▸Tokenholders receive economic exposure and stablecoin dividends but lack direct legal shareholder voting rights.
Background
Tokenized stocks are digital representations of equity assets that allow investors to gain exposure to traditional markets via blockchain technology. These products typically rely on a custodian to hold the actual shares while issuing tokens that track the asset's price and economic performance. They are designed to offer 24/7 trading and increased capital efficiency compared to traditional brokerage accounts.
Relevance
7.5/10