Marina Lyubimova
⬤ BitGo and Figure have completed the first regulated blockchain-native equity trades in the U.S., using Figure's OPEN platform - short for Onchain Public Equity Network. This isn't a pilot or a proof-of-concept anymore. These are live, legally compliant stock trades running entirely on blockchain rails.
⬤ OPEN brings together regulatory compliance, custody controls, and blockchain settlement in one protocol. Tokenized stocks - digital representations of publicly listed shares recorded on distributed ledgers - have existed in theory for years. What's different now is that they're operating in a live environment where legal requirements and blockchain execution actually work together. That's been the core concern holding mainstream adoption back, and this milestone directly addresses it.
⬤ The timing fits a broader wave sweeping through digital assets in 2025-2026. Tokenized real-world assets are scaling fast - ETH is already dominating a tokenized assets market approaching $6B, with Treasuries and tokenized funds trading more efficiently than ever on-chain. Meanwhile, tokenized Treasuries and real-world asset tokens have been gaining serious traction across blockchain networks. Even tokenized equity representations have entered the conversation - though not always smoothly, as the TSLAx token confusion showed, the market still needs clear frameworks to distinguish regulated instruments from lookalikes.
⬤ Executing public equity trades onchain under regulatory oversight opens up real possibilities - faster settlement, extended trading hours, and new custody models. The OPEN network demonstrates that tokenized stocks don't have to choose between innovation and compliance. If this infrastructure scales, it could genuinely reshape how capital markets operate, not by replacing existing systems, but by making them faster, more accessible, and more transparent.
Marina Lyubimova
