Binance And OKX Eye Tokenized US Stocks To Diversify Amid Crypto Slump

TLDR

• Binance and OKX plan to relaunch tokenized US stocks for non-US users in 2026.
• Tokenized equities provide 24/7 trading, mirroring US stock prices in crypto markets.
• Binance and OKX seek TradFi yields amid low crypto trading volume and stagnation.
• Tokenized stocks are part of Binance and OKX’s strategy to compete with Robinhood.

Binance and OKX, two of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, are reportedly planning to relaunch tokenized US stocks as part of their strategy to capture yields from traditional finance. This comes as the crypto market faces stagnation in trading volumes and low market volatility, making it more difficult for exchanges to maintain growth.

These tokenized stocks would allow users to trade fractionalized shares of major US companies like Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft, offering a 24/7 market that mirrors the traditional stock market’s movements.

Both exchanges are exploring tokenized equities as part of a broader effort to diversify their offerings and expand into real-world assets (RWAs). Tokenized stocks have the potential to provide crypto holders with exposure to the growing US stock market while remaining within the crypto ecosystem. This development is especially timely, given the current sluggishness in crypto trading volumes in early 2026.

Regulatory Challenges and Strategy Shift

Binance initially launched tokenized stocks in 2021 for a brief period before abandoning the service due to regulatory pressure from authorities such as Germany’s BaFin and the UK’s FCA. These regulators viewed tokenized stocks as unlicensed securities offerings. Binance cited a shift in its commercial focus at that time, but new reports suggest that Binance is now reconsidering this market.

It is reportedly exploring a relaunch of tokenized US stocks for non-US users to bypass oversight by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The move could allow Binance to create a parallel 24/7 market that doesn’t face the regulatory hurdles encountered in the US.

OKX is also reportedly planning to enter the tokenized stock market, as part of its broader expansion into RWAs. The exchange aims to capture a share of the rapidly growing market for tokenized equities. However, both Binance and OKX have yet to make official announcements or provide clear details on the specific stocks or timelines for these offerings.

Crypto Market Challenges Driving the Shift

Crypto markets have seen a sharp decline in trading volume in early 2026, making it harder for exchanges like Binance and OKX to maintain their growth. According to reports, daily spot trading volumes for Bitcoin (BTC) in January 2026 were 37% lower than in November 2025. The low trading activity is attributed to muted volatility and limited investor interest. This has led crypto exchanges to look for new ways to generate revenue and attract users back to their platforms.

The strong performance of US tech stocks in recent months has driven demand for exposure to these equities. Tokenized stocks offer a way for crypto users to invest in assets like Nvidia, Apple, and Tesla without leaving the crypto ecosystem. These assets are typically backed by offshore custodians or derivatives, rather than direct ownership of the underlying shares, enabling users to trade fractional shares around the clock.

Competition in the Tokenized Stock Market

The market for tokenized stocks is growing but remains relatively small. As of early 2026, it is valued at approximately $912 million. However, this market has been gaining traction, with monthly transaction volumes exceeding $2 billion.

Traditional trading platforms like Robinhood and Coinbase are also making moves into tokenized assets, adding to the competition. Robinhood, for instance, has already launched tokenized stocks in the EU/EEA, with plans to expand to 24/7 trading on its upcoming Robinhood Chain built on Arbitrum.

Binance and OKX’s large user bases and strong infrastructure position them to challenge Robinhood’s dominance in the European market. Their focus on providing crypto-native users with access to traditional equities could help them capture a share of this growing market. This could also serve as a lifeline for crypto exchanges facing liquidity challenges and looking for new ways to generate revenue in the face of low trading volumes.

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