Tokenized Stocks: What’s The Point? - Arkham

Tokenization transforms traditional equities into blockchain-based assets, creating a digital claim on real-world shares held by third-party custodians. These assets vary in structure, ranging from direct ownership and contractual claims to synthetic price exposure that lacks underlying equity rights. While centralized exchanges like Binance previously attempted custodial offerings, regulatory scrutiny led to product closures, shifting the focus toward compliant fintech platforms and RWA-specific protocols. These newer models emphasize proof of reserves and legal agreements to integrate equities into DeFi ecosystems for lending and collateralization. Institutional interest is also growing, with banks and asset managers exploring private blockchains to streamline settlement and reduce reconciliation costs. By enabling fractional ownership and 24/7 trading, tokenized stocks aim to lower barriers for retail investors while providing institutions with faster settlement and improved risk monitoring. Ultimately, the sector represents a critical intersection of traditional finance and blockchain infrastructure, though it remains constrained by evolving global regulatory frameworks.