FinanceCoinbase Enters Tokenized Stock Market with Onchain Shares and Dividends

The cryptocurrency exchange announced that investors will hold the shares and earn dividends, highlighting the increasing momentum for tokenized securities.

By Helene Braun, AI Boost|Edited by Sheldon Reback Jun 16, 2026, 3:03 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on (Getty Images)SummaryShow
  • Coinbase intends to roll out tokenized stocks that are backed 1:1 by U.S. equities, enabling users to own, trade, hold, and redeem these assets on a blockchain, with dividends paid automatically.
  • CEO Brian Armstrong stated that these new offerings stand apart from many existing tokenized stock products by offering real equity ownership instead of derivative or synthetic options.
  • The tokenized stocks will be launched in select jurisdictions outside the U.S. at an unspecified date, part of a broader trend in Wall Street and crypto to transition traditional securities to blockchain technology.

Coinbase (COIN) has announced its plan to launch tokenized stocks that will be directly backed by U.S. equities, positioning itself in the competitive landscape of crypto firms and traditional finance seeking to integrate stocks into blockchain systems.

In a recent post on X, the exchange declared, "the first real, 1:1 backed tokenized stocks are coming," allowing users to take ownership, trade, hold, and redeem these securities on the blockchain while receiving dividends automatically.

This announcement precedes a product event scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, where the company, primarily known as a cryptocurrency exchange, is anticipated to reveal a range of new trading and financial service offerings.

"For the first time, these are real 1:1 backed tokenized stocks you can trust," stated CEO Brian Armstrong. "You own an actual piece of the company onchain."

Armstrong emphasized that the new products differ from many current tokenized stock solutions, which usually provide derivative or synthetic exposure rather than direct ownership.
"Other current solutions are some form of derivative or IOU — not real ownership," he explained. "Our tokenized stocks will deliver all the advantages of true ownership (like dividend benefits), combined with the perks of tokenized assets."

The tokenized stock market is rapidly evolving within the digital asset sector, as companies aim to transition traditional securities onto blockchain technologies. Proponents argue that this innovation can decrease settlement times, reduce costs, and facilitate 24/7 asset trading instead of restricting it to market hours.

For international investors, tokenized stocks offer more straightforward access to the capital markets of the U.S., the largest economy globally. This allows them to avoid the complexities of establishing accounts with foreign brokers and navigating local regulations, gaining exposure through blockchain platforms instead.

Competition in this domain has heightened this year, with Kraken recently launching tokenized U.S. stocks for users in over 180 countries via its xStocks platform, while Robinhood (HOOD) announced intentions to provide tokenized equities in Europe. Other exchanges like Gemini (GEMI) and Bybit are also investigating similar offerings.

Tokenization is also gaining traction in traditional finance. Citi has predicted that tokenized securities could develop into a multitrillion-dollar market by the decade's end, while firms such as BlackRock (BLK), Franklin Templeton, and JPMorgan (JPM) have expanded their tokenized fund and asset portfolios.

Initially, Coinbase's tokenized stocks will only be available in select eligible jurisdictions outside the U.S. The company has not disclosed a specific launch date, stating only that the products are "coming soon."

CoinbaseTokenizationAI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.Related AssetsBitcoin$65,905.321.96%Latest Crypto News
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Why it matters:

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