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Global investment platform eToro is making a major move into blockchain-based finance by announcing plans to tokenize 100 top U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Ethereum. This development marks one of the most significant expansions of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization in recent years, opening the door for a broader audience to access traditional financial markets through decentralized technology.
Set to operate as ERC-20 tokens, these tokenized assets will be available for trading 24 hours a day, five days a week. More importantly, they can be moved to self-custody wallets and potentially used within decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. This adds flexibility and accessibility to retail investors who want both exposure to U.S. equities and the freedom offered by blockchain.
A Leap Toward Decentralized Real-World Assets
The tokenization of equities isn’t new for eToro. Back in 2019, the company introduced blockchain-based versions of gold and silver, which served as a precursor to its current focus on financial securities. Now, the company is expanding that vision to a much larger and more liquid asset class: U.S. stocks and ETFs.
This initiative reflects a broader shift in the financial world, where real-world asset tokenization is becoming a major theme. According to RWA.xyz, the tokenized RWA market has grown to $21.3 billion in 2025 alone. Within this space, tokenized equities remain relatively small—valued at around $418 million—but they are expected to grow rapidly. At the TokenizeThis conference, STOKR’s CEO projected the market could reach a trillion-dollar valuation in the coming years.
eToro’s entry into this segment sends a strong signal that traditional finance players are taking blockchain integration seriously.
Ethereum Chosen for Its Infrastructure and DeFi Reach
eToro’s decision to use Ethereum as the foundation for its tokenized equities isn’t just a technical choice—it’s a strategic one. Ethereum remains the most widely adopted blockchain for DeFi and tokenized asset development due to its mature infrastructure, high liquidity, and active developer ecosystem.
By issuing these stock-backed tokens as ERC-20 assets, eToro ensures that they are interoperable with a wide range of DeFi applications. This allows users to deploy their tokenized stocks in yield-generating protocols, use them as collateral, or simply store them in any Ethereum-compatible wallet.
This flexibility aligns with growing investor demand for seamless cross-market access. It also represents a significant step toward bridging the gap between centralized and decentralized financial systems.
Democratizing Access Through Tokenization
Yoni Assia, CEO of eToro, emphasized that this initiative is not just about modernizing finance—it’s about democratizing it.
“Tokenization improves transparency and accessibility,” he noted, highlighting that blockchain technology allows for fractional ownership and near-instant settlements. These features remove many of the traditional barriers associated with stock trading, such as limited hours, intermediaries, and geographic restrictions.
The result is a more inclusive financial system, especially for users in regions where access to U.S. equities has been limited or expensive.
With tokenized versions of household names like Apple, Tesla, or the S&P 500 ETF potentially becoming available on-chain, investors from virtually anywhere could gain exposure to U.S. markets in a matter of seconds—without relying on a centralized broker.
Growing Competition in Tokenized Stock Markets
eToro’s move comes amid intensifying competition in the tokenized stock market space. Robinhood recently rolled out a Europe-focused trading solution built on Arbitrum, an Ethereum Layer-2 scaling network, to offer tokenized equities. Meanwhile, Backed Finance has already listed over 60 tokenized stocks and ETFs.
These developments underscore how tokenization is no longer a fringe experiment but a strategic focus for major fintech platforms. While each firm takes a different approach—some leaning on Layer-2 networks, others on custodial models—the underlying trend is clear: tokenized stocks are gaining real traction.
eToro’s Ethereum-native model puts it in a strong position to capture DeFi-savvy users who are already engaged with the blockchain economy.
Bridging Traditional and Decentralized Markets
The appeal of tokenized equities lies in their ability to merge the benefits of traditional finance—regulated assets, recognizable value—with the innovation of blockchain—instant settlement, self-custody, and global accessibility.
For eToro users, this could mean greater control over their investments. They can withdraw tokenized stocks to their own wallets, use them in DeFi protocols, or swap them against stablecoins on decentralized exchanges.
As regulators worldwide start to define frameworks for tokenized securities, platforms like eToro that move early with compliant, scalable offerings could lead the next generation of digital investment platforms.
What Comes Next?
The rollout of 100 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs is expected to gradually go live over the coming months. Traders and investors alike will be watching closely to see which assets become available first and how they interact with existing DeFi systems.
For Ethereum, this move reinforces its position as the backbone of tokenized finance. For eToro, it places the platform among the first traditional brokerages to fully embrace blockchain beyond cryptocurrency.
More broadly, it signals the arrival of real-world asset tokenization into mainstream finance. With forecasts projecting a trillion-dollar future for this segment, eToro’s latest push could be just the beginning of a much larger transformation in how people invest.
