Robinhood is significantly expanding its presence in the digital asset industry with the launch of Robinhood Chain, the company's new public blockchain built on Arbitrum's Ethereum Layer-2 infrastructure.
The network is designed to connect traditional finance with decentralized finance (DeFi), allowing users to access blockchain-based financial services while simplifying the overall experience for mainstream investors.
Robinhood Unveils Public Mainnet
The public mainnet officially went live on Wednesday, introducing an ecosystem that combines blockchain infrastructure with familiar financial products.
Robinhood said the new network has been built to make decentralized finance more accessible while supporting institutional-grade infrastructure through several major integrations.
The blockchain launches with support from BitGo for custody, Chainlink for decentralized data services, and partnerships with Uniswap and Pleiades, which will provide automated market making and liquidity solutions.
According to Robinhood, the network is also AI-native, enabling artificial intelligence agents to interact directly with blockchain applications and execute transactions autonomously.
Connecting Traditional Finance and DeFi
Robinhood believes decentralized finance can unlock new opportunities for investors but acknowledges that blockchain technology has traditionally been too complex for many users.
Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood's Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto and International, said the company's goal is to simplify access while combining the strengths of both financial systems.
Tokenized Stocks Gain New Utility
One of Robinhood Chain's biggest features is support for Stock Tokens, which are tokenized, on-chain representations of publicly traded companies.
Eligible users outside the United States will be able to access tokenized shares of companies including Apple and Nvidia.
Unlike traditional brokerage accounts, these assets can participate directly in decentralized finance.
Users will be able to deposit Stock Tokens into lending protocols, use them as collateral, and potentially unlock additional yield opportunities within the DeFi ecosystem.
Robinhood Wallet Adds New Crypto Features
The launch also expands functionality within Robinhood Wallet.
Users can now access decentralized perpetual futures trading through Lighter, while eligible U.S. customers gain access to Robinhood Earn, a feature allowing users to lend the USDG stablecoin for returns of approximately 7% APY.
These additions further position Robinhood as a broader crypto platform rather than simply a retail brokerage.
Global Expansion Continues
Robinhood is also using the blockchain launch to accelerate its international growth.
The company announced that users in Canada can now access its services, while expansion into Singapore is expected soon.
Robinhood also confirmed plans to introduce crypto services in the United Kingdom, adding to its global customer base of nearly 28 million users.
The international rollout reflects Robinhood's strategy of growing beyond its traditional U.S. retail market while increasing adoption of its blockchain products.
Shares Rise Despite Crypto Revenue Decline
Investors reacted positively to the announcement.
Robinhood shares climbed more than 8% on Wednesday, extending monthly gains to nearly 20%.
Despite the rally, the stock remains well below its 52-week high.
The launch comes shortly after the company reduced approximately 10% of its workforce following a significant decline in crypto-related revenue.
Robinhood reported crypto revenue of $134 million last quarter, down from $221 million in the previous quarter, highlighting the pressure facing retail trading platforms during slower market conditions.
With Robinhood Chain now live, the company is betting that blockchain infrastructure, tokenized assets, and decentralized finance will become key drivers of its next phase of growth.
