Tokenized Stocks and the Future of 24/7 Global Trading: Redefining Liquidity and Access in Traditional Finance

The financial landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as tokenized equities redefine liquidity, access, and market dynamics. By enabling 24/7 trading, instant settlement, and programmable ownership, tokenized stocks are dismantling traditional barriers to global capital markets. This paradigm shift is not merely speculative-it is being driven by real-world adoption, regulatory experimentation, and the strategic integration of blockchain technology into core financial infrastructure.

The Rise of Tokenized Equities: A New Market Layer

Tokenized equities are creating a parallel 24/7 market for traditional assets, with spot trading volume for tokenized stocks surpassing $1 billion in December 2025 alone. This surge reflects growing demand for on-chain access to U.S. equities outside standard market hours, particularly among international investors seeking to bypass foreign exchange costs and local brokerage requirements.

Regulatory bodies are adapting to this evolution. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) granted the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) a three-year no-action window to pilot on-chain tokenization of stocks, bonds, and Treasuries in 2025. Meanwhile, Nasdaq filed with the SEC to tokenize every listed stock by 2026, proposing extended trading hours of 23 hours per day, five days per week to cater to global demand. These developments signal a strategic alignment between traditional finance (TradFi) and blockchain technology, with institutional players like BlackRock and JP Morgan already integrating blockchain solutions into their operations.

Bitget's UEX Model: Bridging DeFi and TradFi

At the forefront of this transition is Bitget's Universal Exchange (UEX) model, which unifies crypto assets, stablecoins, and tokenized traditional instruments into a single trading environment. By leveraging partnerships such as Ondo Finance and launching USDT-margined stock futures, Bitget has enabled 24/7 equity exposure, effectively blurring the lines between decentralized finance (DeFi) and TradFi.

The UEX model's impact is measurable. In Q3 2025, Bitget maintained a top-three global ranking in Bitcoin and Ethereum open interest, with Bitcoin open interest averaging $9–11 billion and Ethereum open interest rising from $5 billion to nearly $8 billion. The exchange also averaged $750 billion in monthly trading volume and surpassed $11.5 trillion in cumulative derivatives trades, cementing its role as a critical liquidity hub. Notably, Bitget's Onchain platform expanded to Ethereum, Solana, BSC, and Base, achieving daily trading volumes exceeding $113 million.

Price Tracking Maturation: Convergence and Challenges

A critical metric for assessing the viability of tokenized equities is their ability to track underlying assets accurately. According to the Block Scholes report, tokenized stocks have demonstrated strong price convergence with their off-chain counterparts during regular trading hours, with intraday spreads remaining within narrow ranges. However, deviations tend to widen overnight or on weekends when traditional markets are closed. This dynamic highlights both the promise and the challenges of 24/7 markets: while tokenized equities offer continuous access, they also expose investors to liquidity risks during off-hours trading.

Despite these challenges, the maturation of price tracking is accelerating. Products tracking the S&P 500 and major U.S. equities have seen meaningful adoption since Q3 2025, driven by improved liquidity and tighter spreads. The Block Scholes report further notes that a majority of traders engaging with tokenized stocks already hold crypto assets, indicating that demand is coming from existing market participants seeking expanded exposure.

Institutional and Retail Participation: A Tipping Point

The growth of tokenized equities is not just a function of technological innovation-it is also being fueled by a surge in participation from both institutional and retail investors. In Q3 2025, Bitget's UEX model attracted robust activity, with institutional traders drawn to its deep liquidity. Retail participation has also surged, driven by the appeal of 24/7 trading and the ability to manage diversified portfolios through a single interface.

This dual adoption is reshaping market dynamics. As stated by the Animoca Brands report, platforms like Bitget are setting a benchmark for how centralized exchanges can bridge DeFi, TradFi, and real-world assets (RWAs). The result is a self-reinforcing cycle: increased participation drives liquidity, which in turn attracts more institutional and retail capital.

Strategic Inevitability: The Road Ahead

The convergence of tokenized RWAs and traditional finance is not a speculative trend-it is a strategic inevitability. By 2026, regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and technological interoperability will further accelerate this shift. Platforms that enable seamless access to 24/7 global trading, such as Bitget's UEX model, are poised to become critical infrastructure in this new paradigm.

For investors, the implications are clear. Tokenized equities represent a gateway to a more liquid, accessible, and programmable financial system. Those who position themselves at the intersection of blockchain innovation and traditional markets-whether through direct exposure to tokenized assets or investments in the platforms enabling this transition-stand to benefit from one of the most transformative shifts in capital markets history.