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Robinhood

Robinhood Launches Blockchain, Robinhood Chain, for Tokenized Stocks & Crypto

by Rachel Kim – Technology Editor February 11, 2026

written by Rachel Kim – Technology Editor

Robinhood launched a public testnet for its new blockchain, Robinhood Chain, on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the brokerage’s push to integrate further into the cryptocurrency and tokenization landscape. The announcement, made at the Consensus Hong Kong conference, signals the company’s ambition to support 24/7 trading and self-custody of digital assets, including tokenized stocks, and ETFs.

The Robinhood Chain is built on Arbitrum, a Layer 2 blockchain solution operating on top of Ethereum, designed to improve transaction speeds and reduce costs. According to Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto, the choice of Arbitrum was deliberate. “What we wanted was the security of Ethereum, the liquidity that is available on EVM chains and the Ethereum ecosystem,” Kerbrat stated in an interview with CoinDesk.

Currently in its testnet phase, Robinhood Chain is accessible to a limited group of partners and developers for testing and experimentation. The company plans to launch the “mainnet” version later this year, enabling direct customer interaction with the blockchain. Kerbrat indicated that while the underlying technology will be complex, the user experience will be seamless, with many customers likely unaware they are utilizing a blockchain for their transactions. The blockchain will support transactions within both Robinhood’s self-custody crypto wallet and the main Robinhood application.

The move towards a proprietary blockchain comes as Robinhood increasingly focuses on tokenization – the process of converting assets like stocks and ETFs into digital tokens that can be traded on a blockchain. CEO Vlad Tenev has previously described tokenization as a transformative force in financial markets. Robinhood’s strategy aligns with a broader industry trend, with rival Coinbase utilizing the Optimism Layer 2 blockchain for its own Base blockchain platform.

The launch of Robinhood Chain coincided with the release of the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report on Tuesday. While Robinhood reported a profit of $605 million, or 66 cents per share – exceeding analyst expectations of 63 cents – revenue figures fell short of projections, leading to a decline in share prices during after-hours trading.

Developers will have six months of access to the testnet before the mainnet launch, allowing them to build applications on the network. Robinhood has already partnered with key players in the crypto space, including Alchemy, LayerZero, and Chainlink, to support the development of the Robinhood Chain ecosystem.

February 11, 2026 0 comments

Business

Investment Platforms Clash: Old vs New in the Battle for Customers

by Priya Shah – Business Editor February 10, 2026

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Summary of the Article: Transparency and Competition in Wealth Management

This article discusses the increasing pressure on wealth management platforms to be more transparent about fees and performance,and the resulting competition driving down costs. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

* Transparency is Key: Y Tree CEO Stuart Cash argues that clients are demanding greater clarity on how their wealth managers are performing, what they own, and what it costs. Traditional reports and digital platforms aren’t providing sufficient benchmarking tools.
* Fee Structures are Under Scrutiny: Established platforms generally charge higher fees for premium services, often increasing them based on plan offerings.
* Platforms are Reacting to Competition:
* Interactive Investor: Increased customers by 14% and is implementing a new pricing structure (ranging from £5.99 to £39.99/month).
* Hargreaves Lansdown: Cutting fees substantially (account charge from 0.45% to 0.35%, share trading from £11.95 to £6.95, pension plans from 0.75% to 0.45%) at a cost of tens of millions of pounds, to “reinvigorate the business” and face competition.
* Fintech Disruption: Newer fintech companies are adopting a different approach with lower account fees and trading costs, creating a “low barrier to entry” for investors.
* Robinhood’s impact: Robinhood is gaining traction with commission-free US stock trading and no FX fees, aggressively expanding into the UK market.

In essence, the article highlights a shift in the wealth management landscape, driven by client demand for transparency and increased competition from innovative fintech companies forcing established players to reassess their fee structures.

February 10, 2026 0 comments

Business

Goldman Sachs Eyes Entry into Prediction Markets

by Priya Shah – Business Editor January 21, 2026

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Goldman Sachs⁣ Eyes Prediction Markets: A⁤ New Frontier for Finance

Published: ⁢2026/01/21⁤ 13:31:33

Goldman Sachs is actively exploring a⁣ foray into the rapidly expanding world of prediction ‍markets,⁤ signaling a potential shift‌ in the financial ⁢landscape.‍ Chairman adn CEO David⁤ Solomon revealed the firm’s⁢ interest during a ‍recent earnings call,‌ highlighting the ‍“super fascinating” nature of these markets and the firm’s commitment⁣ to⁤ understanding their potential. This move‌ positions Goldman Sachs alongside established players ⁢like Robinhood, Coinbase, and‌ DraftKings,‌ all vying for a piece⁤ of this burgeoning industry.

The Rise of Prediction Markets: ‍Beyond Gambling

Prediction markets, once relegated to the fringes of finance, are experiencing ⁣a significant boom. These platforms allow users‌ to trade contracts based ‌on the outcome of future events –⁣ ranging from election results and economic indicators to the success of new product ⁢launches and even the weather. Unlike traditional gambling, prediction markets often ⁣attract a more sophisticated user base interested in leveraging details⁤ and analytical ⁤skills. As PYMNTS reported in October, this growth is fueled by a broader range of available ‍products and the‌ entry of major platforms, signaling ‌increasing scalability.

How Prediction Markets Work

At their core, prediction markets function as information aggregation tools. The price ‍of a contract reflects the collective belief of‌ participants‌ regarding the probability‍ of an event ‌occurring. ⁣ This dynamic pricing mechanism can provide valuable insights,often proving⁤ more accurate than traditional polling⁢ or forecasting methods. These‍ markets typically offer “yes/no” or binary outcome contracts,simplifying the trading ⁣process and making them accessible to a wider‍ audience. The ⁣increasing sophistication of these platforms is allowing ⁢for more complex contracts and a wider range of events⁢ to be traded.

Goldman Sachs’ Strategic Interest

solomon emphasized that Goldman sachs is notably interested in prediction markets regulated by the ‍Commodity Futures Trading⁤ Commission (CFTC). He noted that these activities bear resemblance⁤ to derivative contract activities,presenting⁢ potential synergies with the ‌firm’s existing ⁤business lines. ‍“We’re very ‌focused⁣ on‌ understanding that, understanding the regulatory ‍structure that’s going to ⁢develop around that, seeing were there are opportunities for us to have capabilities or to partner⁤ to serve our clients around ‌these,” ‌Solomon stated ‍during the earnings ⁣call. This suggests Goldman Sachs isn’t ⁤looking to simply replicate existing platforms but ‍rather to leverage its expertise in derivatives and⁢ risk management‌ to offer unique services within this space.

Regulatory Landscape and ‍Potential Challenges

The regulatory environment surrounding prediction markets⁤ remains a key consideration. The CFTC’s ⁢role in overseeing these markets ⁢is evolving, and⁢ goldman‌ Sachs’ careful assessment ‌of the regulatory structure is crucial. ⁣ Navigating⁣ these complexities will be essential for any firm seeking to establish⁤ a significant presence⁣ in ⁣this⁢ sector. Moreover, ensuring the integrity of these markets and preventing manipulation⁢ will be paramount to maintaining ⁢investor⁣ confidence.

Competition Heats⁢ Up: Key Players in the Prediction Market Space

Goldman Sachs’‌ potential entry ⁤into prediction markets will intensify ⁢competition among existing players.Here’s a⁣ look at some of the key contenders:

Robinhood: Has seen explosive growth in its prediction market offerings. Vlad Tenev, Robinhood’s Chairman ⁤and CEO, reported in ⁢November ‌that the platform doubled its ⁢volume ‌of ⁣contracts each quarter ‌in 2024,⁢ reaching 2.3 billion contracts traded in⁤ the third⁢ quarter alone [1].
Coinbase: Demonstrated its commitment to ⁤the space through the acquisition of The Clearing Company in December.‍ This acquisition, coupled with Coinbase’s plans to offer direct access to prediction markets in the U.S., positions the company as‍ a major player‌ [2].
DraftKings: Leveraging its⁣ expertise in sports betting, ⁣DraftKings launched DraftKings Predictions, a standalone app and web product offering event contracts‍ across 38 states [3].

Looking Ahead: The Future⁤ of Prediction Markets

The⁢ prediction market landscape is poised for continued growth and innovation. As regulatory frameworks become clearer and more sophisticated platforms emerge, these ‌markets are⁤ likely to attract a broader range of participants, from individual investors to institutional traders. Goldman⁤ Sachs’ interest signals a ⁤growing⁣ recognition of the potential within this space, ‌and its involvement could further‍ legitimize and‌ accelerate the development of prediction‍ markets as a valuable ⁣tool for information aggregation and risk assessment. The coming years will be crucial in shaping ‍the future of this dynamic and evolving industry.

January 21, 2026 0 comments