Robinhood Opens 'AI-Native' Ethereum Layer-2 With Tokenized Stock Trading

What Robinhood Launched

According to Decrypt, Robinhood's new network is built on Arbitrum, one of the leading scaling technologies for Ethereum. Layer-2 networks sit on top of the main Ethereum blockchain and are designed to process transactions faster and at lower cost, while still settling back to the underlying chain. By opening a public mainnet, Robinhood is allowing broader access to the network rather than keeping it restricted to internal testing.

The company has described the chain as "AI-native," signaling an intent to weave artificial intelligence features into how the network operates. Decrypt's reporting did not detail the specific AI functions at launch, and Robinhood's precise implementation remains to be seen as the network matures.

Tokenized Stocks Enter the Mix

Alongside the network launch, Robinhood introduced tokenized stock trading. Tokenized stocks are blockchain-based representations of shares, intended to let users trade exposure to equities using crypto infrastructure. The approach has drawn growing interest from exchanges and fintech firms because it can, in theory, extend trading hours and simplify settlement compared with traditional market systems.

Moving equities onto a blockchain rail also raises regulatory questions that vary sharply by jurisdiction. In Europe, frameworks governing crypto-assets and market infrastructure have advanced further than in many other regions, meaning the reception of tokenized stock products there could differ significantly from the U.S. market.

Why It Matters

Robinhood's push reflects a wider trend of consumer trading platforms building their own blockchain infrastructure rather than relying solely on third-party networks. Owning a layer-2 chain gives the company more control over transaction costs, product design and the pace at which it can add new features.

For European fintech players and exchanges eyeing the same tokenization opportunity, the launch is a signal that a major consumer brand is committing resources to on-chain trading. It also sharpens competition in a space where the intersection of AI, crypto and traditional finance is drawing steady investment.

As the network scales, the key tests will be adoption, regulatory clarity across markets, and whether the promised AI capabilities deliver tangible advantages. For now, the mainnet is live and open to the public, as Decrypt reported.

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