Ethereum News Today: Blockchain Redefines Global Access to U.S. Stocks and ETFs

Ondo Finance and Bitget have introduced a new initiative that provides global investors with access to over 100 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs on the Ethereum blockchain, marking a significant expansion in the tokenized real-world asset (RWA) market. These tokenized assets represent shares in major companies such as Apple, Tesla, and Microsoft, as well as in popular ETFs. The offering is designed to facilitate 24/7 onchain trading and is fully backed by the underlying U.S. securities held in regulated custodians. This initiative is expected to expand to include thousands of assets by year-end [1].

The integration of tokenized equities is enabled through Ondo Global Markets, a platform developed by Ondo Finance in collaboration with Bitget and Bitget Wallet. Ondo Global Markets is positioning itself as a decentralized onchain gateway to the U.S. securities market, offering non-U.S. investors exposure to over 100 U.S. stocks and ETFs. The platform’s tokenized securities are transferable across wallets and exchanges, enhancing liquidity and accessibility compared to traditional closed-platform tokenized stock offerings [2].

Ondo Finance, which partners with Kraken, Bybit, and now Bitget, has created a legal structure for its tokenized securities that includes daily third-party attestations and is designed to comply with regulatory requirements. The firm’s tokenized securities are issued under a bankruptcy-remote legal structure and are subject to daily third-party attestations. According to the Ondo Finance team, the initiative is a key step toward making global financial products accessible through blockchain technology, echoing the role that stablecoins have played in bringing the U.S. dollar onchain [3].

Bitget and Bitget Wallet have integrated tokenized equities into their platforms, allowing users to trade over 100 tokenized stocks and ETFs. The integration supports minimum investments of $1 and does not require users to maintain traditional brokerage accounts. The tokens tap directly into traditional equity market liquidity through Ondo’s Global Markets infrastructure, enabling execution that mirrors traditional exchanges. The partnership marks a milestone in the convergence of decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi) [4].

The tokenized stock market is currently valued at $337.94 million, with a monthly transfer volume of $185.13 million and a total of 63,010 holders, reflecting a 3.3% increase in the number of participants over the previous month. Ondo’s tokenized assets are drawing attention from investors who seek to diversify their portfolios and access U.S. securities without the limitations of geographic exclusions and high fees associated with traditional markets. Bitget and Bitget Wallet plan to expand their tokenized asset selection to over 1,000 stocks and ETFs in the coming months [5].

The expansion of tokenized equities faces challenges from regulators and stock exchanges, which have raised concerns about legal protections and the need for tighter oversight. However, the growth of tokenized RWAs and the increasing participation of DeFi platforms suggest a broader acceptance of blockchain-based financial instruments. The initiative by Ondo, Bitget, and Bitget Wallet represents a strategic move to leverage blockchain for financial inclusion and to redefine the way global investors access U.S. markets. As the tokenized equity market continues to develop, it remains to be seen whether regulatory frameworks will adapt to accommodate the innovation while maintaining investor protections [6].

Source: [1] Tokenized Equity Product xStocks Launches on Ethereum (https://cointelegraph.com/news/xstocks-launches-ethereum-60-tokenized-stocks-nvidia-tesla) [2] Ondo brings over 100 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs on-chain (https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/ondo-brings-over-100-tokenized-u-s-stocks-and-etfs-on-chain) [3] Bitget and Bitget Wallet Support Trading of Over 100 Tokenized Assets via Ondo Finance (https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/1001126256/bitget-and-bitget-wallet-support-trading-of-over-100-tokenized-assets-via-ondo-finance) [4] Bitget and Bitget Wallet Support Trading of Over 100 Tokenized Assets via Ondo Finance (https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/1001126256/bitget-and-bitget-wallet-support-trading-of-over-100-tokenized-assets-via-ondo-finance) [5] Bitget and Bitget Wallet Support Trading of Over 100 Tokenized Assets via Ondo Finance (https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/1001126256/bitget-and-bitget-wallet-support-trading-of-over-100-tokenized-assets-via-ondo-finance) [6] Tokenized Equity Product xStocks Launches on Ethereum (https://cointelegraph.com/news/xstocks-launches-ethereum-60-tokenized-stocks-nvidia-tesla)