- Brian Armstrong said tokenized stocks can open global access, enable fractional ownership, and cut trading friction.
- He highlighted 24/7 markets, real-time settlement, and programmable governance via smart contracts.
- Coinbase is building tokenized shares in-house as on-chain equity volumes rise and regulation debates continue.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said tokenized stocks could transform global markets through broader access and lower trading friction. He made the comments publicly on X while outlining features like 24/7 trading and real-time settlement. Armstrong said tokenization resembles stablecoins by expanding access for investors lacking traditional brokerage options.
Access, Trading Hours and Governance Features
Armstrong said tokenized stocks allow global access, notably for investors outside developed financial systems. He added that fractional ownership enables smaller purchases previously unavailable through traditional markets.
Additionally, he highlighted round-the-clock trading, perpetual futures and faster settlement as core benefits. He also pointed to programmable governance features. According to Armstrong, smart contracts could restrict voting rights based on holding duration.
He said these mechanisms allow experimentation not possible with traditional custodians. He compared this potential to stablecoins, which processed about $30 trillion in payment volume last year.
Mixed Reactions From Market Observers
Following Armstrong’s post, several X users weighed in. Andreas Kohl said on-chain direct registration with disintermediated trading could scale, excluding some derivatives. He specifically referenced native Bitcoin-based systems as a likely growth area. Another user, Jack Holdorrson, said capital markets would increasingly tokenize over time.
However, another commenter raised regulatory concerns. The user said U.S. policy repackages traditional Wall Street structures using blockchain language. He referenced a $55 million government program with advisory committees, comparing it to the 2008 bailout framework.
Coinbase Strategy and Market Data
Meanwhile, Coinbase has expanded its product roadmap. Armstrong previously said the company plans an “everything app” covering crypto, stocks, and commodities by 2026.
Coinbase also partnered with prediction market Kalshi, offering event-based contracts settled in USDC or USD. Coinbase is developing tokenized shares internally, unlike Robinhood and Kraken, which rely on external partners.
According to RWA.xyz, tokenized equity transfers rose nearly 76% monthly to about $2.46 billion. Additionally, Coinbase agreed to acquire The Clearing Company, paying in cash and stock, to support prediction market operations.