Bitcoin News Today: Telegram's Tokenized Stocks Target 2.8 Billion Underbanked, Democratizing Global Market Access

Telegram's Wallet platform has announced a partnership with Kraken and Backed to introduce tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs, marking a significant expansion of its crypto ecosystem. The initiative, set to launch in October 2025, will initially offer 35 tokenized assets, including Coinbase (COINX), Circle (CRCLX), and Robinhood (HOODX), with plans to expand to over 60 tokenized equities and ETFs by year-end Tokenized Stocks And ETFs Arrive to Telegram Via Wallet^[1]. The offering is fully collateralized 1:1 with the underlying assets and structured to comply with regulatory requirements, distinguishing it from other tokenized equity platforms Tokenized US Stocks & ETFs Coming To Telegram Wallet Via …^[2].

The rollout will prioritize emerging markets, with specific jurisdictions yet to be disclosed. This aligns with Backed's focus on financial inclusion in developing economies, where 2.8 billion people are underbanked and 1.5 billion lack access to basic financial services Telegram To Let Users Trade Tokenized US Stocks via …^[3]. Wallet in Telegram emphasized that the integration aims to "democratize access to capital markets" by enabling fractional ownership of high-value stocks and 24/5 trading, features absent in traditional markets Telegram Wallet Adds 60+ Tokenized US Stocks With 24/7 Access^[4]. Commission-free trading will remain in place until the end of 2025, with standard fees applying to withdrawals Wallet in Telegram to Introduce Tokenized Stocks by …^[5].

Kraken, a major U.S. crypto exchange, and Backed, a Swiss tokenization platform, will manage liquidity and issuance. The xStocks product line, which tracks publicly listed equities and ETFs, has already generated over $4.5 billion in combined CEX and DEX trading volume since its launch Tokenized US Stocks & ETFs Coming To Telegram Wallet Via …^[6]. Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi described the partnership as "collapsing the distance between traditional markets and everyday users," highlighting Telegram's 100 million registered Wallet users as a gateway for tokenized finance Telegram and Kraken Team Up to Bring Tokenized Stocks to Over …^[7].

The integration will initially operate through Wallet's custodial service before expanding to the self-custodial TON Wallet by late 2025. This dual approach caters to diverse user preferences, with TON Wallet allowing direct control over private keys. The platform's chief strategy officer, Halil Mirakhmed, noted that the phased rollout prioritizes "testing adoption and user experience" while ensuring compliance Tokenized Stocks And ETFs Arrive to Telegram Via Wallet^[8]. Notably, Bitcoin ETFs will not be included in the initial offering, though Bitcoin remains accessible via the custodial wallet Tokenized US Stocks & ETFs Coming To Telegram Wallet Via …^[9].

The move positions Telegram as a key player in the tokenized assets market, which analysts estimate has grown to hundreds of billions of dollars in 2025. By leveraging its 1 billion global user base, Telegram aims to redefine how users interact with traditional financial instruments. The platform's founder, Pavel Durov, emphasized his early Bitcoin investments in a recent interview, underscoring his long-term commitment to blockchain innovation Telegram To Let Users Trade Tokenized US Stocks via …^[10].