{"id":1176,"date":"2026-07-02T02:14:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T02:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nile1.com\/en\/?p=1176"},"modified":"2026-07-12T12:36:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T12:36:26","slug":"robinhood-integrates-global-equities-into-defi-with-new-ai-native-blockchain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nile1.com\/en\/2026\/07\/02\/robinhood-integrates-global-equities-into-defi-with-new-ai-native-blockchain\/","title":{"rendered":"Robinhood Integrates Global Equities into DeFi with New AI-Native Blockchain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Robinhood has officially transitioned from a retail brokerage to a blockchain infrastructure provider with the launch of the Robinhood Chain<\/a> mainnet. The new Ethereum layer-2 network, powered by Arbitrum technology, represents a deliberate push to merge traditional equity markets with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.<\/p>\n

According to the company, the network is designed as an “AI-native” environment, specifically optimized to facilitate trading by autonomous AI agents. This technical shift arrives as Robinhood seeks to stabilize its crypto division, which recently saw a 34% quarter-over-quarter decline in revenue, falling to $134 million.<\/p>\n

The most significant editorial shift is the introduction of Stock Tokens<\/a>. These are on-chain representations of major equities like Nvidia and Apple. While restricted from the U.S. market, users in eligible international jurisdictions can now use these tokenized shares as collateral in DeFi lending pools. This move aligns with a broader institutional trend toward the tokenization of real-world assets<\/a> (RWAs), a sector that financial regulators and central banks are increasingly monitoring for its potential to streamline settlement processes.<\/p>\n

Johann Kerbrat<\/a>, Robinhood\u2019s SVP and General Manager of Crypto and International, stated that the initiative aims to “bridge the gap” between traditional finance and DeFi, removing the technical barriers that have historically limited retail participation in decentralized ecosystems.<\/p>\n

The launch includes immediate integrations with industry mainstays BitGo and Chainlink, alongside partnerships with Uniswap and Pleiades to provide liquidity and proprietary trading support.<\/p>\n

Simultaneously, the firm is executing a major geographic expansion. Robinhood confirmed it has welcomed users from Canada<\/a> and plans to launch services in Singapore and the U.K. in the near future. This expansion targets a global audience to augment its current base of nearly 28 million customers.<\/p>\n

For U.S. users, the company is focusing on yield-bearing products within the Robinhood Wallet. This includes the ability to lend the dollar-backed stablecoin USDG through the Robinhood Earn feature, which currently offers approximately 7% APY. Additionally, the wallet now supports decentralized perpetuals trading via the exchange Lighter.<\/p>\n

Market reaction to the infrastructure pivot was positive, with shares of Robinhood (HOOD) rising more than 8% to close at $108.65 on Wednesday. Despite the rally, the stock remains roughly 29% below its 52-week high of $153.86, reflecting the volatility that led to a 10% staff reduction last month.<\/p>\n

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