Invest Without Leaving Your Chat: Telegram Unveils Tokenized Stocks

Wallet in Telegram, the custodial crypto wallet integrated into the messaging platform, has announced a partnership with Kraken and tokenization platform Backed to launch tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs. This integration, set to begin in October 2025, marks one of the largest consumer-facing rollouts of tokenized equities to date, offering users access to over 60 tokenized assets, including major equities like Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), and the S&P 500 index (SPY). The initiative aims to democratize access to traditional financial markets, particularly for users in emerging markets, by leveraging Telegram's global user base.

The rollout will initially be available through Wallet in Telegram's custodial service, with plans to expand to the TON self-custodial wallet, which operates on the Telegram Open Network (TON) blockchain, by the fourth quarter of 2025. The tokenized assets are fully collateralized 1:1 with the underlying U.S. equities, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance. Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi emphasized that the partnership aligns with the company's goal of integrating tokenized finance into everyday apps, stating, "Hundreds of millions use Telegram every day, and now they can access tokenized equities directly inside one of the most familiar apps in the world".

The xStocks platform, developed by Backed and Kraken, has already generated over $4.5 billion in trading volume across centralized and decentralized exchanges since its launch. The tokenization of equities and ETFs is part of a broader trend in the 2025 bull market, with analysts estimating the tokenized assets market has grown into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Wallet in Telegram's chief operating officer, Halil Mirakhmed, highlighted that the integration prioritizes compliance and user experience, with plans to test adoption in emerging markets first.

The initiative also underscores the potential of blockchain to transform traditional finance. Adam Levi, co-founder of Backed, noted that xStocks is not merely tokenizing equities but "fundamentally changing the way users interact with capital markets and build wealth." Developers are creating solutions that would be impossible on traditional financial infrastructure, enabling Telegram users to access investment opportunities without leaving the app.

Telegram's move aligns with its strategy to expand its financial ecosystem. With over 100 million registered users in the Wallet and a total user base exceeding 1 billion, the platform is positioned to become a major hub for tokenized financial products. The integration includes ETFs, bonds, and real-world assets in future phases, further diversifying investment options for users.

The rollout reflects growing institutional and retail confidence in tokenized assets. As the U.S. stock market exceeds $60 trillion in value, tokenized equities currently represent a small but rapidly expanding segment. By bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain, Telegram aims to redefine accessibility to capital markets, particularly for underserved populations.

[1] Yahoo Finance, "Telegram to Let Users Trade Tokenized U.S. Stocks via Wallet" (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/telegram-let-users-trade-tokenized-060216124.html)

[2] Cointelegraph, "Tokenized Stocks And ETFs Arrive to Telegram Via Wallet" (https://cointelegraph.com/news/wallet-telegram-tokenized-stocks-etfs-xstocks-kraken)

[3] Cryptonews.net, "Wallet in Telegram to add support for tokenized U.S. stocks this ..." (https://cryptonews.net/news/market/31722900/)

[4] FinanceMagnates.com, "Telegram to Let Users Trade Tokenized U.S. Stocks Directly in Its ... (https://www.financemagnates.com/cryptocurrency/telegram-to-let-users-trade-tokenized-us-stocks-directly-in-its-crypto-wallet/)