Robinhood CEO Says US Needs Rules for Tokenized Stocks or Risks Losing Ground Overseas

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has publicly urged U.S. regulators to establish a clear framework for tokenized equities to prevent the nation from losing its leadership in financial market infrastructure. Tenev argues that the current settlement system, which recently moved to T+1, remains inefficient compared to the potential of blockchain-based real-time settlement. By leveraging tokenization, financial markets could transition to 24/7 trading and eliminate the collateral burdens that caused significant strain during the 2021 GameStop market volatility. Robinhood is already active in this space, offering tokenized products tied to over 190 U.S. stocks to users in more than 120 countries outside the domestic market. These international products are backed one-for-one by underlying shares, though they currently lack the full shareholder rights associated with traditional equity ownership. Tenev envisions a future where tokenization extends beyond public stocks to include private companies and real estate, significantly increasing asset liquidity. The call to action highlights the risk of American investors being excluded from a global shift toward blockchain-based ownership infrastructure. Ultimately, the integration of tokenized assets into the regulated U.S. financial system is presented as a critical step for maintaining competitive market standards.