The ‘Everything App’: How Robinhood Grew From Trading Platform to Financial Ecosystem

Core Insights - Robinhood has evolved from a stock-trading app to a comprehensive financial ecosystem, now boasting 26.7 million customers and offering various services including cryptocurrency, options, futures trading, and a robo-advisor [2][3] - The company is strategically positioned to benefit from a significant wealth transfer, as younger investors accumulate wealth, which is expected to create a multi-decade growth opportunity for Robinhood [3] Company Growth and Market Position - Since its IPO in July 2021, Robinhood's market capitalization has increased from $32 billion to approximately $119 billion, reflecting a nearly fourfold growth [3] - Revenues have surged by 45% year-over-year as of the end of July [3] Historical Context and Industry Impact - Founded in 2013, Robinhood aimed to democratize finance by providing commission-free trading, which prompted major competitors like Charles Schwab and Fidelity to eliminate trading commissions [4][5] - The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated Robinhood's growth, with over 3 million new accounts added in 2020, half of which were from first-time investors [6] New Offerings and Services - In 2025, Robinhood has launched numerous new services, including a private wealth management service that attracted over 100,000 funded customers and half a billion in assets by July [7] - The company has expanded into banking and mortgage lending, partnering with Coastal Community Bank and Sage Home Loans to offer traditional banking services and exclusive loan offers [7]