Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev Says ‘Tokenization Supercycle’ Is Just Beginning – As On-Chain Equity Trading Reportedly Hits Record High In 2026

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has declared the start of a tokenization supercycle, positioning blockchain infrastructure as the primary vehicle for modernizing the American financial system. This shift is underscored by record-breaking growth in on-chain equity trading, which reached $9 billion in 2026, marking a 207% quarter-over-quarter increase and an 800% year-to-date surge. Robinhood Chain, an Ethereum-compatible Layer-2 built on Arbitrum, has already processed over 100 million transactions, facilitating 24/7 global access to U.S. stocks for users in more than 120 countries. Tenev argues that tokenization enables real-time settlement, self-custody, and programmable assets, moving beyond simple economic exposure to true financial portability. The broader market is aligning with this trend, as evidenced by Nasdaq’s pending regulatory approval to extend U.S. stock trading to nearly 23 hours a day. By rebuilding ownership infrastructure, Robinhood aims to ensure American investors are not excluded from the global evolution of asset trading. This transition represents a fundamental move toward an always-on, open financial system where assets move with the speed and efficiency of internet data.