Ethereum’s Arbitrum Sees Massive Institutional Onboarding as Robinhood Deploys 500 Tokenized Stock Contracts
In a landmark move for the convergence of traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems, Robinhood executed a massive deployment of 500 tokenized stock contracts on the Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution Arbitrum on December 17, 2025. This aggressive, single-day expansion of its on-chain real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure, achieved at a remarkably low cost of just $0.03 per contract, catapults the total count of its tokenized equities to 1,997. The strategic deployment, characterized by its factory-style efficiency, represents a significant scaling of RWA infrastructure directly on Ethereum's secondary layer, signaling a major institutional commitment to blockchain-based financial instruments. Notably, the absence of immediate trading activity following the deployment strongly suggests this is a foundational backend preparation phase, laying the essential plumbing for future, large-scale market operations and liquidity provision. This development is a powerful bullish signal for the Ethereum ecosystem, demonstrating that major financial platforms are moving beyond experimentation into operational scaling on its network. By leveraging Arbitrum's low-cost, high-throughput environment, Robinhood is positioning itself to offer seamless, near-instantaneous trading of tokenized traditional assets, potentially unlocking trillions in dormant market capital for the crypto economy. This move underscores a critical trend: the future of asset tokenization is being built on Ethereum's scalable layers, with Arbitrum emerging as a preferred settlement venue for institutional-grade RWAs. The preparation phase indicates an imminent launch of robust trading services, which could drive substantial new user adoption, increase transaction volume, and enhance the utility and value accrual of the underlying Ethereum and Arbitrum networks. For investors, this represents a concrete step toward the maturation of DeFi, where traditional equities and crypto assets can interact frictionlessly within the same liquidity pools and smart contract frameworks, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of global finance.
Robinhood Scales Tokenized Stock Deployment on Arbitrum with 500 New Contracts
Robinhood has aggressively expanded its on-chain real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure by deploying 500 tokenized stock contracts on Arbitrum in a single day. The December 17 surge—executed at a cost of $0.03 per contract via factory-style methods—brings its total tokenized equities to 1,997. No immediate trading activity followed, suggesting backend preparation for future market operations.
The move signals Robinhood’s deepening commitment to blockchain-based finance. By standardizing deployments through a factory contract, the platform demonstrates scalable on-chain settlement capabilities. Arbitrum now hosts the largest single-day equity tokenization event in its history, positioning it as a critical LAYER for traditional asset migration to decentralized networks.
Ethereum Gas Limit Expansion Spurs Infrastructure Plays as DeepSnitch AI Presale Tops $840k
Ethereum developers are preparing a significant scalability upgrade, with Galaxy Digital's Christine Kim confirming plans to increase the network's gas limit from 60 million to 80 million in January. The MOVE follows January 7's blob parameter hard fork, signaling Ethereum's continued infrastructure evolution amid growing demand for blockchain throughput.
Market participants are positioning for the upgrade's implications—expect reduced congestion and lower transaction costs for DeFi operations. Historical patterns suggest such technical improvements tend to buoy ETH's valuation as network efficiency improves.
Meanwhile, DeepSnitch AI's presale has surged to $840k, with tokens gaining 85% since launch. The project is emerging as a critical monitoring solution for traders tracking cross-chain infrastructure developments, particularly as networks like ethereum push scalability boundaries.
Bitmine Accelerates Ethereum Accumulation Aiming for 5% Supply
Bitmine now holds 3.97 million ETH, representing 3.28% of Ethereum's circulating supply. The firm's aggressive accumulation strategy—combining OTC trades and exchange purchases—puts it two-thirds of the way toward its goal of controlling 5% of the network's total ETH.
Such concentrated holdings could reshape market liquidity and governance dynamics. Institutional confidence in Ethereum appears to be growing, as evidenced by Bitmine's unprecedented accumulation pace. Market participants are closely monitoring the remaining 2 million ETH needed to reach the 5% threshold.
Ethereum Open Interest Plummets 50% as Traders Await Breakout
Ethereum's market dynamics have shifted markedly since August, with open interest collapsing by approximately 50%. This dramatic reduction in Leveraged positions signals a broader deleveraging across institutional and whale accounts. Binance's taker sell volume now sits at May-level lows, reflecting diminished aggressive selling pressure.
The second-largest cryptocurrency continues to oscillate between $2,800 and $3,300, forming a textbook contracting triangle pattern on daily charts. Each attempt to breach the 200-day EMA resistance near $3,410 has met with firm rejection. Market technicians note that a decisive move above $3,200-$3,250 could catalyze a rally toward $4,200, while failure to hold $2,900 may precipitate a decline to $2,500.
Alpharectal's December 2025 data reveals an unprecedented unwind of futures exposure. 'When open interest contracts this sharply, it typically precedes explosive volatility,' noted one derivatives trader at a Geneva-based hedge fund. The market appears to be consolidating energy for its next major move.
