Robinhood Considers Solana and Arbitrum for Tokenized Securities Platform in Europe

TLDR Robinhood is developing a platform to offer tokenized US securities to European retail investors The company is considering Arbitrum and Solana blockchains for the infrastructure In April, Robinhood obtained a brokerage license in Lithuania to offer services across the EU Robinhood is also in the process of acquiring crypto exchange Bitstamp CEO Vlad Tenev has previously expressed support for tokenized securities Robinhood is working on a new blockchain infrastructure that will enable European retail investors to trade US securities, according to a Bloomberg report released on May 7, 2025. The financial services company is exploring partnerships with digital asset firms and considering both Arbitrum and Solana as potential blockchain layers for this initiative. The project aims to tokenize US equities, allowing them to be represented on a public blockchain and traded by European users. This would potentially offer benefits such as near-instant settlement, reduced costs, and improved transparency throughout the trading process. Sources familiar with the project indicate that discussions are still ongoing. No final decision has been made regarding the technology partner or launch timeline for the platform. When contacted, a Robinhood spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Representatives from Offchain Labs (the developer of Arbitrum) and the Solana Foundation did not respond to inquiries about the potential partnership. European Expansion Plans The planned platform would expand Robinhood’s European offerings beyond cryptocurrency trading, representing the full scope of its services in the European Union. In April, Robinhood secured a brokerage license in Lithuania. This license authorizes the company to offer stock trading and investment services across the EU bloc. The company is also in the process of acquiring crypto exchange Bitstamp, though this deal is still pending finalization. If completed, the acquisition would give Robinhood access to Bitstamp’s MiFID-licensed multilateral trading facility, opening the door to crypto-linked derivatives in the European region. “I think tokenized securities can really push forward US company dominance in the global market,” said Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev. “Right now, it’s very difficult to invest in a US company if you’re overseas.” The tokenization plan comes after Robinhood reported strong financial results in the first quarter of 2025, exceeding Wall Street estimates. Regulatory clarity in the EU is also driving the company’s exploration of tokenization options. The European Union has taken a leading role in crypto banking regulation, in contrast to the more cautious approach from US authorities. The choice between Arbitrum and Solana would influence network characteristics such as throughput, fees, smart contract capabilities, and compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). If launched, Robinhood’s platform would offer US stocks to a new segment of investors, representing a major step in the convergence between traditional finance and cryptocurrencies. The platform would enable 24/7 trading and potentially deeper market liquidity under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Both Solana and Arbitrum stand to benefit from Robinhood’s choice, as either blockchain would see increased transaction volumes and user activity. Solana has recently attracted institutional interest, with BlackRock using the blockchain for its BUIDL money market fund. Source: https://blockonomi.com/robinhood-considers-solana-and-arbitrum-for-tokenized-securities-platform-in-europe/