In a move signaling the blurred lines between traditional Wall Street and the crypto world, Binance has announced plans to revive its tokenized stock trading service after shutting it down in 2021. The platform is bringing back a feature that lets users trade shares of major companies like Tesla and Microsoft as crypto tokens. This bridges two financial universes that have often seemed like distant cousins at a family reunion.
Binance originally launched this service in April 2021 with help from CM-Equity AG. Users could buy tokens representing stocks in companies like Apple and Coinbase. However, the party ended quickly when regulators in Germany and the United Kingdom raised concerns about unlicensed securities and missing paperwork. By July 2021, Binance pulled the plug under mounting pressure.
Now the exchange is ready to try again. A spokesperson confirmed the relaunch is a natural next step, especially since crypto trading volumes have stagnated in 2026. Binance’s Bitcoin spot trading dropped two percent from December to January and sits thirty-seven percent below November levels. Diversifying into traditional finance makes sense when the crypto market feels stuck in neutral. The move could also make it easier for users to manage exposure through leveraged positions using smaller upfront capital.
The tokenized stocks offer some genuinely useful features. Unlike regular markets that close at four in the afternoon, these tokens trade around the clock. Settlement happens almost instantly instead of the standard two-day wait. Users can also buy fractional shares, meaning you don’t need thousands of dollars to own a piece of expensive stocks. Anyone globally can participate without opening traditional brokerage accounts.
Binance isn’t alone in this space. Competitors like OKX are exploring similar relaunches, while Coinbase positions itself for regulated tokenized equity markets. Even the New York Stock Exchange is developing a platform for tokenized securities with twenty-four-seven trading. Industry watchers predict 2026 could be the Year of Real-World Assets as tokenization spreads beyond crypto. Infrastructure projects like Chainlink and Ondo Finance are expected to benefit from the growing adoption of tokenized equities. Regulatory sandboxes in multiple jurisdictions have tested similar products successfully, providing valuable blueprints for compliance.
Success isn’t guaranteed though. Regulatory challenges remain thorny, and the service must maintain accurate price tracking and sufficient liquidity. Binance needs to rebuild trust after the previous shutdown. Still, the relaunch represents an ambitious bet that crypto technology can modernize how people invest in traditional companies.
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