Robinhood CEO Calls for Faster Crypto Regulation to Enable Staking in the U.S.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has once again called on US lawmakers to accelerate crypto regulation.

He stressed that prolonged uncertainty is stifling innovation and limiting customer access to popular products. His remarks come as Congress debates a bill on crypto market structure, which has exposed growing divisions within the industry.

• Robinhood offers stock tokens to European users but not to US customers.
• Vlad Tenev said crypto staking remains unavailable in four US states: California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Wisconsin, due to regulatory barriers.
• On Wednesday, the Senate Banking Committee postponed the markup of major legislation addressing the cryptocurrency market structure.
• CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew support for the legislation, citing unresolved policy concerns.

In a post on X, Tenev said crypto staking remains among the most requested features from Robinhood users. Despite that demand, access remains restricted in several parts of the country.

He explained that the limitations stem from regulatory uncertainty rather than platform readiness. Robinhood’s website lists California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Wisconsin as states where staking is currently unavailable.

Consequently, users face uneven access to cryptocurrency products depending on their geographic location. Tenev argued that this fragmented landscape highlights shortcomings in the US approach to crypto oversight.

To illustrate the contrast, Tenev pointed to Europe’s more developed regulatory framework. Robinhood already offers stock tokens to customers across the European Union, products that remain unavailable to US users.

He added that the disparity highlights how slow policy development in the United States can hinder domestic innovation while pushing advanced financial products offshore.

Against this backdrop, Tenev stated that Robinhood supports congressional efforts to establish a clear crypto market structure. He stressed that well-defined rules should both protect consumers and encourage responsible growth.

Moreover, he added that Robinhood is prepared to work with lawmakers from both parties, including members of the Senate Banking and Housing committees, to refine the legislation. Although he acknowledged recent progress, he said further revisions are necessary before the bill can move forward.

Nevertheless, momentum slowed this week when the Senate Banking Committee postponed its scheduled markup of the bill.

The delay followed Coinbase’s decision to withdraw its support. CEO Brian Armstrong raised concerns about the latest draft, including proposed restrictions on tokenized equities, potential constraints on decentralized finance, and changes to stablecoin reward structures.