Robinhood Expands Crypto Offerings with Arbitrum Layer-2 Blockchain

Robinhood Markets, a prominent brokerage platform, has made significant strides in the cryptocurrency space by announcing the development of a layer-2 blockchain. This move is part of a broader strategy to expand its crypto offerings and transform its trading app into a comprehensive digital assets hub. The announcement, made on June 30, 2025, coincided with the surge in the Arbitrum (ARB) token, fueled by speculation of a partnership between the two entities. Robinhood confirmed that it is building a layer-2 blockchain on Arbitrum, which will facilitate the tokenization of real-world assets.

The new layer-2 blockchain is just one of the many services and solutions Robinhood has unveiled. The platform aims to make crypto more accessible and user-friendly, positioning it as the backbone of the global financial system. According to Robinhood chairman and chief executive officer Vlad Tenev, the latest offerings are designed to lay the groundwork for crypto to become a fundamental part of the global financial infrastructure.

In addition to the Arbitrum-powered blockchain, Robinhood has launched tokenized U.S. stocks and exchange-traded fund tokens in the European Union. This initiative targets over 400 million people across 30 EU and European Economic Area countries, expanding the company’s European app from a crypto-only offering to an all-in-one platform. Johann Kerbrat, general manager and senior vice president of Robinhood Crypto, emphasized the company's goal of making crypto accessible to everyone by integrating powerful tools into an intuitive platform.

Access to the over 200 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs will initially be available via Arbitrum, with ETF tokens eventually moving to Robinhood’s layer-2 blockchain. EU customers will also gain access to crypto perpetual futures with up to 3x leverage, which Robinhood plans to roll out to eligible customers this summer. Additionally, the platform is introducing crypto staking in the U.S., starting with Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL).

Robinhood's efforts to become a leading platform for crypto have intensified over the past year. The acquisition of Bitstamp and WonderFi, a Canadian crypto firm, are significant moves in this direction. These acquisitions, along with the new layer-2 blockchain and expanded crypto offerings, position Robinhood as a major player in the rapidly evolving digital assets landscape.