Binance Brings Back Tokenized Stock Trading After 2021 Shutdown

Binance has resumed tokenized stock trading through a new partnership with Ondo Finance, marking its return to the market nearly five years after halting the service due to regulatory pressure.

Key Takeaways

• Binance has listed 10 tokenized US stocks and ETFs issued by Ondo Finance on its Binance Alpha platform.
• The move marks Binance’s first tokenized stock offering since shutting down the service in 2021 amid regulatory scrutiny.
• Tokenized equities are not available to users in the United States.
• The sector is approaching $1 billion in total value, with Ondo reporting more than $550 million in total value locked and $11 billion in trading volume since September 2025.

What Happened?

Binance has re entered the tokenized equities market by partnering with Ondo Finance to offer blockchain based versions of major US stocks and exchange traded funds. The products are now available through Binance Alpha, a platform inside Binance Wallet that typically features early stage crypto projects before they are listed on the main exchange.

The move signals a strategic comeback for Binance after it discontinued its previous tokenized stock offering in 2021 following regulatory scrutiny in Europe.

Binance Lists 10 Tokenized Stocks on Binance Alpha

The world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume has added 10 tokenized US equities and ETFs issued by Ondo Finance. The lineup includes tokenized versions of Apple, Google, Tesla, Nvidia, and Invesco’s Nasdaq tracking QQQ ETF. On Binance Alpha, the assets are listed under ticker formats such as AAPLon, GOOGLon, TSLAon, NVDAon, and QQQon.

Binance Alpha operates within Binance Wallet and serves as a pre listing pool for tokens that may later be considered for listing on Binance’s centralized spot marketplace.

Jeff Li, Binance’s vice president of product, said in a statement:

“

Our users now have even more convenient ways to explore and trade tokenized securities, in line with our mission to offer innovative and accessible trading opportunities.

Jeff LiVice President of Product – Binance

A Binance spokesperson also told The Block:

“

We are now making Ondo tokenized securities available for Binance users. The Ondo tokens are digital securities and Binance provides access to these products through our regulatory approvals with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in Abu Dhabi.

Binance Spokesperson

Neither Binance nor Ondo’s tokenized stocks and ETFs are available to users in the United States.

A Return After Regulatory Scrutiny

Binance first launched tokenized stock trading in April 2021, beginning with Tesla and later expanding to include Coinbase, Strategy, Microsoft, and Apple. However, the service was shut down after facing scrutiny from the UK Financial Conduct Authority and Germany’s BaFin.

Last month, Binance signaled that it was considering a renewed push into tokenized equities. The partnership with Ondo Finance now puts that plan into action.

Ondo launched its stock tokens through the Ondo Global Markets platform in September 2025. Since then, the company reports surpassing $550 million in total value locked and generating more than $11 billion in cumulative trading volume across tens of thousands of users.

Ondo Finance President Ian De Bode said:

“

Our partnership with Binance signals the clear continued interest for tokenized stocks outside of the U.S.. Ondo’s assets are currently already trading on other major wallets and exchanges (e.g., Gate, Bitget, Metamask, etc.).

Ian De BodePresident – Ondo Finance

Growing Competition in Tokenized Equities

Binance’s move comes as both crypto native firms and traditional finance players expand into tokenized stock trading. Exchanges such as Kraken, Bybit, and Gemini have rolled out similar offerings, while brokerages like Robinhood have also entered the space.

Traditional exchanges including Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange have outlined plans to explore tokenized stock trading, signaling growing institutional interest.

At the same time, Coinbase recently rolled out stock trading to all US users and announced a partnership with Yahoo Finance aimed at broadening distribution.

Proponents argue that blockchain based stocks can expand access to global investors, especially retail users in developing countries who may not have easy access to US brokerage accounts. Tokenized equities can also be used as collateral within decentralized finance ecosystems.

CoinLaw’s Takeaway

In my view, Binance’s return to tokenized stocks is not just a product relaunch. It is a signal that the industry believes this model has staying power. I have seen tokenization evolve from a niche experiment to a serious market segment attracting both crypto exchanges and Wall Street players.

What stands out to me is the regulatory positioning. Binance is leaning on approvals in Abu Dhabi, while clearly excluding US users. That tells me exchanges are being far more cautious this time. If tokenized stocks continue gaining traction and regulators provide clearer rules, this could reshape how everyday investors access global equities.

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