TLDR;
- Kraken launches global tokenized Apple and Tesla shares for 24/7 blockchain trading
- xStocks run on Solana blockchain backed 1:1 by real shares via Backed Finance
- Other players like INX and Bitpanda offer tokenized stocks and fractional shares
- Binance previously offered tokenized stocks but halted due to regulatory concerns
Crypto exchange Kraken is set to revolutionize access to traditional financial markets with the global rollout of tokenized Apple and Tesla shares beginning late June. The offering will be available across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, enabling 24/7 trading of major U.S. equities through blockchain.
xStocks to Democratize Global Equity Access
Branded as xStocks, the new tokenized equities will run on the Solana blockchain and are backed 1:1 by real shares via Kraken’s partner, Swiss-based Backed Finance. The tokens will mirror the live market prices of the underlying assets, allowing investors outside the U.S. to bypass brokerage delays, expensive fees, and trading-hour limitations.
Today we’re announcing our new partnership with @BackedFi for the launch of xStocks on @Solana 🚀@xStocksFi will offer tokenized versions of U.S.-listed equities, available soon to eligible Kraken clients in select non-U.S. markets.
A new layer of market access, built on… pic.twitter.com/eXUnpHDipF
— Kraken Exchange (@krakenfx) May 22, 2025
Notably, the launch includes high-demand stocks like Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, and more than 50 other popular equities and ETFs. Users will be able to withdraw the tokenized shares to third-party wallets, trade them onchain, and even use them as collateral in DeFi protocols or use cases that traditional brokerages cannot support.
“This is what the future of investing looks like,” said Mark Greenberg, Kraken’s Global Head of Consumer. “Access to U.S. equities is still too slow, costly, and restricted. xStocks delivers fast, borderless, 24/7 exposure to some of the world’s most valuable companies.”
Kraken Expands Global Reach
The global xStocks rollout follows Kraken’s earlier move to offer equities trading to U.S. users, where customers can now access over 11,000 stocks and ETFs directly through the Kraken app. The platform is also expanding those offerings to the U.K., Europe, and Australia.
Notably, in March 2025, Bloomberg reported that Kraken is planning to go public in Q1 2026, signaling its long-term vision to become a dominant player in both traditional and decentralized finance. That same month, the exchange made headlines with its $1.5 billion acquisition of futures trading platform NinjaTrader, strengthening its foothold in derivatives markets.
Shortly after the deal, Kraken entered a strategic partnership with Mastercard, enabling the issuance of physical and digital crypto debit cards, further expanding its financial ecosystem and payment capabilities.
Other Major Players in Tokenized Equity Markets
That said, major exchanges like INX are already offering tokenized stock services. INX, in partnership with Backed, provides tokenized shares of prominent companies such as Tesla, Microsoft, Google, and GameStop, as well as ETFs like the S&P 500 and BlackRock’s iShares Treasury ETF. These assets are tokenized on the Polygon blockchain, backed one-to-one by their corresponding underlying stocks, and are available for 24/7 trading to eligible non-U.S. users.
Similarly, Bitpanda, an Austrian-based platform, offers fractionalized trading of traditional stocks, including Apple and Tesla, through its regulated investment firm, Bitpanda Financial Services. This allows users to invest in portions of stocks, making it more accessible for those with limited capital.
Binance previously offered tokenized stock trading services, allowing users to invest in fractional shares of major companies such as Tesla and Apple. However, the exchange discontinued this service in July 2021 due to regulatory concerns, particularly from European regulators.
