Robinhood CEO says tokenized stocks could prevent another GameStop freeze

Core Insights - The CEO of Robinhood, Vlad Tenev, suggests that blockchain-based shares could prevent future trading halts like the one experienced during the GameStop incident in January 2021 [1][2] Group 1: Trading Infrastructure Issues - Tenev attributes the chaos during the GameStop trading freeze to outdated financial infrastructure rather than bad actors, highlighting the combination of slow systems with unprecedented trading volume [2] - During the trading freeze, Robinhood faced massive collateral demands due to the two-day trade settlement system, leading the company to raise over $3 billion in emergency funding [2] - Although regulators have shortened the settlement cycle from T+2 to T+1, Tenev argues that this is still insufficient for modern trading needs, as trades can take days to settle [3] Group 2: Tokenization and Future Plans - Tenev proposes moving stocks on-chain through tokenization, which would eliminate lengthy settlement periods and reduce risks for the system, allowing customers to trade freely [4] - Robinhood has minted nearly 2,000 tokenized versions of U.S. stocks and ETFs, totaling just under $17 million, but this is significantly lower than competitors like xStocks and Ondo Global Markets, which exceed $500 million in offerings [4] - The company plans to introduce features such as 24/7 trading, self-custody, lending, and staking, but Tenev emphasizes the need for regulatory action, specifically urging lawmakers to pass the CLARITY Act to enable real-time settlement for retail traders [5]