Robinhood Launches Layer-2 Blockchain, Sees $3.1B in Early DEX Volume
Robinhood Markets launched "Robinhood Chain," an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain on Arbitrum, on July 1, 2026, enabling tokenized stocks and DeFi products in over 120 countries. The network generated $3.1 billion in DEX trading volume in its first week, driven largely by meme coins rather than tokenized assets. Robinhood also introduced "Robinhood Earn," offering 7% yield on its stablecoin. Analysts at Barclays and Morgan Stanley raised price targets by up to 50%, citing strong platform momentum.
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Robinhood Launches New Blockchain: Robinhood Chain for Tokenized Stock Trading
On July 1, 2026, Robinhood Markets launched the Robinhood Chain, a Layer-2 network built on Ethereum using Arbitrum technology. The blockchain enables its 28 million users to trade tokenized shares of US stocks 24/7 across more than 120 countries. The network is described as 'AI-native,' meaning autonomous software agents are a key user group. Ten percent of net protocol fees will be routed back to the Arbitrum ecosystem, with 8% going to tokenholder-controlled treasury, creating a direct bridge between on-chain activity and Arbitrum's value. Robinhood had already opened its stock trading platform to AI agents in late May, with plans to extend to crypto, options, and futures. The article suggests this could validate strategies for Solana and Ethereum while positioning Robinhood as a major competitor in the crypto space, leveraging its retail investor base as an economic moat.
Yahoo FinanceRobinhood's Blockchain Debut Generates $3.1 Billion in DEX Volume, Analysts Stunned
Robinhood Markets' new blockchain, Robinhood Chain, launched on July 1, 2026, and generated $3.1 billion in decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume in its first week, ranking among the top five networks for DEX activity according to Wall Street broker Bernstein. The Ethereum layer-2 network, built on Arbitrum, has attracted over 65,000 users holding approximately $13 million in tokenized stocks and $300 million in stablecoins. While memecoins drove early trading, analysts expect Robinhood to increasingly focus on tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) including stocks and commodities. The launch comes as the tokenized RWA sector has grown to over $51 billion, up 50% year-to-date. Bernstein maintains an outperform rating on Robinhood with a $130 price target, while the stock traded at $110.85, down 1% intraday.
Yahoo FinanceRobinhood Chain's Early Momentum Is Being Driven By Meme Coins, Not Tokenized Stocks
Robinhood Chain, an Ethereum layer-2 network launched two weeks ago, has seen its early momentum driven primarily by meme coins rather than the tokenized stocks it was built to promote, according to analysts at investment bank Bernstein. The network has facilitated $3.1 billion in cumulative trading volume over the past seven days via decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and PancakeSwap, becoming a top-five destination for on-chain trading. While around 65,000 users have gained exposure to $13 million in stock tokens (available in over 120 countries but not the U.S.), the most valuable meme coin on the network is Cash Cat, with a $150 million market cap. Other popular meme coins include Wen Lambo, Tendies, and Hoodrat. Bernstein noted strong liquidity and traction from crypto-native traders. Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has previously described tokenization as a major innovation, but the early data suggests meme coin speculation is currently the primary driver of activity.
Yahoo FinanceBarclays and Morgan Stanley Raise Robinhood Price Targets by Up to 50%
On July 10, 2026, Barclays and Morgan Stanley both raised their price targets for Robinhood Markets (HOOD) stock, citing robust trading activity and platform momentum as the brokerage expands beyond retail brokerage. Barclays increased its target by 48.8% from $82 to $122, while Morgan Stanley raised its target by 30.5% from $95 to $124, both reiterating Buy ratings. The upgrades follow Robinhood's July 1 launch of Robinhood Chain, an Ethereum-based layer 2 blockchain built on Arbitrum's Orbit technology and using Chainlink as its oracle infrastructure. The total value locked (TVL) in DeFi on Robinhood Chain reached approximately $95.5 million by July 10. Despite the bullish analyst moves, HOOD stock traded at $113.80 at press time, down 1.15% on the day, and remains 25% below its all-time high of $153.86 reached in October 2025.
Yahoo FinanceRobinhood Markets Launches Public Blockchain
Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) has launched a public mainnet for 'Robinhood Chain,' a Layer-2 blockchain built on Arbitrum (ARB) designed for tokenized real-world assets and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. The company's tokenized stock products are now live through Robinhood Wallet in over 120 countries, enabling 24/7 trading and use across DeFi apps. Robinhood also introduced 'Robinhood Earn,' a decentralized lending product allowing users to lend the company's dollar-backed stablecoin via self-custody wallet, offering a 7% annual yield. The move expands Robinhood's crypto offerings despite ongoing digital asset volatility, citing customer demand. HOOD stock has declined 6% year-to-date to $108.65 per share, while Bitcoin trades at $61,400, up 2% in the past 24 hours.
Yahoo FinanceRobinhood Markets Launches Public Blockchain
Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) has launched a public mainnet for 'Robinhood Chain,' a Layer-2 blockchain built on Arbitrum (ARB) designed for tokenized real-world assets and DeFi applications. The move expands the brokerage's cryptocurrency offerings amid ongoing digital asset volatility. Tokenized stock products are now live through Robinhood Wallet in over 120 countries, enabling 24/7 trading and DeFi integration. Additionally, Robinhood introduced 'Robinhood Earn,' a decentralized lending product offering 7% annual yield on its dollar-backed stablecoin via self-custody wallet. HOOD stock has declined 6% year-to-date to $108.65, while Bitcoin trades at $61,400, up 2% in 24 hours. Robinhood states it is responding to customer demand for deeper crypto capabilities.
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