Catenaa, Wednesday, June 18, 2025- Coinbase is seeking regulatory approval to offer blockchain-based stock trading in the US, a move that could transform how equities are bought and sold by introducing 24/7 tokenized trading on blockchain networks.
The Nasdaq-listed crypto exchange is in talks with the Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to trade “tokenized equities,” or traditional shares represented as digital tokens on distributed ledger technology.
If approved, Coinbase would compete with brokerages like Robinhood and potentially reshape equity markets by offering fractional ownership, faster settlements and continuous access.
Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal called tokenized stocks a major priority during a June 17 interview with Reuters.1
He emphasized their potential to lower trading costs and broaden market access through blockchain efficiency.
Tokenized equities allow investors to own digital representations of real-world stocks and assets.
These tokens mirror the value of underlying securities, but can be traded instantly, offering reduced settlement times and fractional ownership, key for retail investors.
Blockchain’s 24/7 functionality further distinguishes it from traditional trading hours.
Despite growing interest, US regulatory hurdles remain. Coinbase would need a “no-action letter” or exemptive relief from the SEC to proceed, especially since it is not currently registered as a broker-dealer.
A prior SEC case accusing Coinbase of unregistered operations was dropped earlier this year under the Trump administration.
- https://www.reuters.com/business/coinbase-seeking-us-sec-approval-offer-blockchain-based-stocks-2025-06-17/[↩]
