Binance to Offer 7,000 U.S. Stocks and ETFs

While a number of crypto exchanges offer access to U.S. stocks, most limit that offering to a few dozens to a few hundred equities and ETFs. Today Binance is upping the ante, offering access to some 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs through its trading platform.

Binance also announced that it will soon launch bStocks, tokenized securities representing selected U.S. stocks and equities.

Both launches are part of the largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume’s goal of turning itself into a financial super-app that acts as a one-stop shop for all investing needs.

“We have set out to reach the next 3 billion users, and to do that, we need to make it simpler for users to access opportunities across asset classes, diversify their portfolios, and move more easily between traditional investing and on-chain finance,” said Yi He, co-founder and co-CEO of Binance, in a statement. “That is what a multi-asset financial super app should help people do.”

Eligible users will be able to trade equities with zero commissions and purchase fractional stocks starting at just $5. Trading will be available 24 hours a day, five days a week. A securities lending feature allows stockholders access to earn passive yield by lending their shares. Binance offerings are available to non-U.S. residents only.

Purchases will be made in USDC, with support for USDT, BNB, and several other tokens. Sale proceeds will be made in USDC. There are about 5,500 U.S.-listed stocks and 4,700 ETFs.

On the stock front, broker-dealer Nest Trading will arrange the purchases while clearing broker Alpaca Securities will handle execution, clearing, settlement, and custody, according to Binance. Alpaca will give buyers direct ownership of their shares, which makes them eligible for dividends and corporate governance voting rights.

Most tokenized equities only represent shares held separately in custody by the issuer, and so rely on those issuers to pass along dividends. Few offer any voting rights. But they can be traded 24/7.

“Tokenization has the potential to reshape financial markets by giving users greater control, more flexibility, and ultimately more financial freedom,” said Richard Teng, co-CEO of Binance. “We see a significant opportunity to make financial assets more accessible, more useful, and more connected across traditional and digital markets.”