Ondo Global Markets Opens US Stock & ETF Trading to Non-US Investors in 2025 – Here’s What You Need to Know
- The Dawn of 24/7 Tokenized Stock Trading
- How the Tokenization Mechanism Works
- Multi-Chain Expansion and Strategic Partnerships
- The Block Street Merger: Creating a Liquidity Superhighway
- Regulatory Tightropes and Market Implications
- FAQs: Your Tokenized Stock Questions Answered
In a major move bridging traditional finance and DeFi, Ondo Finance has launched Ondo Global Markets – a tokenized securities platform offering 24/7 access to 100+ US stocks and ETFs for international investors. Backed by US-registered brokerages and leveraging Ethereum's blockchain, this "Wall Street 2.0" solution combines institutional liquidity with crypto's borderless nature. The platform plans expansions to solana and BNB Chain, while a potential merger with Block Street could create a unified liquidity layer for tokenized assets.
The Dawn of 24/7 Tokenized Stock Trading
Imagine buying Tesla shares at 3 AM Tokyo time while Nasdaq sleeps. That's the reality Ondo Global Markets created this September 2025 by tokenizing blue-chip stocks like Apple, Nvidia, and popular ETFs on Ethereum. Unlike traditional markets with rigid hours, this platform enables round-the-clock trading five days a week for investors across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Nathan Allman, Ondo's CEO, frames this as the natural evolution after stablecoins: "First we put dollars on-chain, now we're doing the same for US securities." The timing couldn't be better – with platforms like BTCC, Robinhood, and Kraken all expanding into tokenized stocks, 2025 is shaping up as the year traditional assets go fully blockchain-native.
How the Tokenization Mechanism Works
Each tokenized security represents direct economic exposure to the underlying asset, fully backed by holdings in US-registered brokerages. chainlink provides price oracle services, ensuring accurate valuations, while custody partners like BitGo and Ledger safeguard assets. Interestingly, the platform excludes both US and UK investors due to regulatory considerations.
The current lineup includes:
- Tech giants: AAPL, NVDA, TSLA
- Popular ETFs: SPY, QQQ
- Fixed income products
Ondo promises 1,000+ additional assets by year-end, potentially creating the most comprehensive on-chain securities marketplace.
Multi-Chain Expansion and Strategic Partnerships
While ethereum hosts the initial rollout, Ondo confirmed LayerZero-powered interoperability coming to Solana and BNB Chain. This multi-chain approach mirrors the strategy of major exchanges like BTCC, recognizing that different ecosystems attract distinct investor profiles.
The integration list reads like a who's who of crypto infrastructure:
- Wallets: OKX, Trust, Bitget
- Exchanges: Gate
- DeFi protocols: 1inch, Morpho
Notably absent are some US-based platforms, likely due to the regulatory tightrope surrounding security tokens.
The Block Street Merger: Creating a Liquidity Superhighway
Ondo's planned merger with Block Street could solve tokenized assets' perennial liquidity challenge. Block Street's platform enables:
- Institutional-grade borrowing/lending of tokenized stocks
- Short selling capabilities
- Cross-margining with stablecoins
Their testnet already boasts 200,000 users, with rumored backing from Citadel and Jane Street – traditional finance heavyweights dipping toes into DeFi waters.
Regulatory Tightropes and Market Implications
Tokenized stocks aren't without controversy. Critics highlight:
- Limited shareholder rights (no voting privileges)
- Regulatory fragmentation across jurisdictions
- Custody complexities
Yet the momentum seems unstoppable. With Pantera Capital's $250M real-world asset fund and Ondo's dedicated LAYER 1 blockchain in development, the infrastructure for institutional-grade on-chain finance is rapidly maturing.
FAQs: Your Tokenized Stock Questions Answered
What makes Ondo Global Markets different from other tokenized stock platforms?
Ondo combines three unique advantages: 1) Direct exposure to underlying securities through US brokerages, 2) 24/5 trading windows unavailable in traditional markets, and 3) Multi-chain accessibility starting with Ethereum then expanding to Solana/BNB Chain.
Can US investors use Ondo Global Markets?
No – the platform specifically excludes US and UK investors due to regulatory restrictions. This mirrors limitations seen on other security token platforms.
How does pricing work for tokenized stocks?
Chainlink oracles provide real-time price feeds tied to traditional market data. During US market hours, prices closely track exchanges like NYSE/Nasdaq. After-hours pricing reflects supply/demand dynamics on-chain.
What's the advantage of holding tokenized stocks versus traditional shares?
Key benefits include: 1) Borderless access for international investors, 2) Potential integration with DeFi protocols for lending/borrowing, and 3) Elimination of time-zone constraints for trading. However, traditional shares offer voting rights and clearer regulatory protections.
When will Solana and BNB Chain integrations launch?
While Ondo hasn't announced specific dates, the LayerZero-powered interoperability is expected before year-end 2025 based on their development roadmap.
