Ethereum News Today:

Ondo Finance has launched its tokenized equity platform, Ondo Global Markets, offering non-U.S. investors access to over 100 U.S. stocks and ETFs on the Ethereum blockchain. The initiative, first announced in February 2025, enables investors in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Latin America to mint and redeem shares 24/7 during trading days, with real-time access to underlying exchange liquidity. The tokens represent on-chain versions of real-world assets and are backed by securities held at U.S.-registered broker-dealers, ensuring their collateralization and authenticity [1].

The offering includes tokenized versions of major equities such as Apple (AAPL) and Nvidia (NVDA), as well as the QQQ ETF. The tokens are designed to be transferable across wallets, exchanges, and DeFi protocols. Ondo Finance has partnered with infrastructure providers like BitGo, Ledger, and Chainlink to support the platform’s functionality and security. The firm aims to expand the selection to over 1,000 assets by the end of 2025 and plans to extend the service to additional blockchains such as Solana and BNB Chain [1].

Simultaneously, Kraken and Swiss tokenization firm Backed have launched xStocks on Ethereum, introducing tokenized equities as ERC-20 tokens. This move follows earlier xStocks launches on Solana, BNB Chain, and TRON, with over $3.5 billion in combined trading volume since its debut in June 2025. xStocks are fully collateralized 1:1 by the underlying equities and can be deposited and withdrawn directly on Ethereum, allowing investors to move assets between Kraken and self-custodial wallets for on-chain activities [2].

Ethereum's position as the leading smart contract network provides xStocks with immediate access to thousands of decentralized applications and a large user base. Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi emphasized the strategic importance of Ethereum, stating that the multi-chain approach ensures tokenized equities are accessible across ecosystems, portable between wallets and protocols, and composable within trusted applications [2]. The initiative aligns with the broader trend of tokenizing real-world assets, which includes efforts to bring treasuries, private credit, and equities onto blockchain platforms for increased liquidity and accessibility.

Both Ondo Finance and Kraken’s tokenized equity offerings reflect the growing interest in integrating traditional financial instruments with blockchain technology. However, the sector faces challenges such as limited shareholder rights and fragmented regulatory frameworks. Despite these issues, the momentum for tokenized equities is evident, with multiple platforms like Gemini, Robinhood, and eToro also exploring or planning similar offerings [1]. As the market continues to evolve, the focus remains on ensuring transparency, security, and regulatory compliance in the tokenization of real-world assets.

Source:

[1] Ondo Finance Rolls Out Tokenized U.S. Stocks, ETFs as ... (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/09/03/ondo-finance-rolls-out-tokenized-u-s-stocks-etfs-as-equity-tokenization-ramps-up)

[2] Kraken, Backed Bring Tokenized Equities Offering to ... (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/09/02/kraken-backed-bring-tokenized-equities-offering-to-ethereum-mainnet)

[3] xStocks launch on Ethereum (https://blog.kraken.com/product/xstocks/launch-on-ethereum)