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Crypto exchange Binance has officially expanded into traditional equities by launching direct U.S. stock and ETF trading for eligible non-U.S. users. Accompanying this rollout is the announcement of "bStocks," an upcoming feature that will allow users to convert their traditional equity holdings into tokenized securities directly on the BNB Chain.
How to Trade Stocks on Binance
The new feature enables Binance users to trade over 7,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs using existing crypto balances, including stablecoins like USDT and USDC, as well as Binance's native token, BNB. The exchange is targeting global retail accessibility by offering zero-commission trading and fractional shares starting at a $5 minimum.
To facilitate the service while remaining within legal parameters, Binance has partnered with traditional financial intermediaries. The execution of buy and sell orders is handled by broker-dealer Nest Trading, while New York-based financial firm Alpaca manages asset custody, dividend distributions, and corporate actions.
This model offers users exposure to traditional equity price movements directly inside the crypto application, running 24 hours a day, five days a week.
What is bStocks
While the immediate launch provides a unified interface for traditional stocks, Binance co-CEO Richard Teng confirmed that the secondary phase involves full on-chain tokenization. Planned for release in the coming weeks, the "bStocks" initiative will give users the option to tokenize their equity assets.
Once converted to bStocks on the BNB Chain, these digital certificates will function as programmable real-world assets (RWAs). This enables features unique to the digital asset ecosystem:
- 24/7 Availability: Moving settlement from traditional broker structures to the blockchain allows continuous trading outside standard market hours.
- DeFi Composability: Tokenized equities can potentially be integrated into decentralized finance protocols for collateralized lending, liquidity provision, and yield strategies.
According to Binance’s official product disclosure, bStocks are legally classified as certificates representing specific financial instruments. They do not grant direct legal ownership or voting rights in the underlying public companies, but rather mirror the financial and economic exposure of the shares.
Strategic Drive Toward a Financial Super-App
This shift highlights a growing industry trend where major digital asset platforms compete directly with traditional fintech brokerages like Robinhood and Webull. By eliminating the friction of onboarding onto multiple applications, Binance aims to capture broader overseas retail capital.
The integration of traditional equities alongside major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and BNB marks a significant step toward the convergence of decentralized finance and legacy capital markets.
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