Tokenized stocks promise frictionless investing for the masses. But as Bitrue rolls out NVIDIA, Tesla, and Apple tokens, a critical question lingers: What exactly are you buying? Hint: It’s not equity.
According to a press release shared with crypto.news on July 4, crypto exchange Bitrue has launched tokenized U.S. stock trading through xStocks, a partnership with Swiss-based Backed Finance.
The digital assets, tokenized representations of NVIDIA, Tesla, and Apple stocks, are now available on Bitrue’s Alpha trading platform. They can be bought and sold using USDT around the clock, without the need for a traditional brokerage account or adherence to U.S. market hours.
“We’re working to break down the barriers of traditional finance that often exclude smaller investors, and now our users have a new avenue to expand their portfolio in a manner that can deliver real returns for them,” Adam O’Neill, Chief Marketing Officer at Bitrue said.
Yet, the trade-off is clear: While these assets track the performance of actual equities, they do not grant ownership rights, dividends, or voting power.
Tokenized stocks: the promise and the trade-offs
Bitrue’s entry into tokenized stocks challenges the traditional financial system’s gatekeepers. Through its partnership with Backed Finance, the exchange is offering exposure to marquee U.S. stocks without the usual access barriers.
The appeal for users lies in the convenience. The assets can be bought and sold using USDT, settled in seconds, and accessed 24/7 without relying on a brokerage or a traditional exchange
While this opens new opportunities for global investors typically shut out of U.S. equities, it comes with essential caveats that underscore the distinction between exposure and ownership.
According to Bitrue’s disclosures, these tokens do not equate to actual shares. Investors receive no dividends, voting rights, or participation in corporate actions. In essence, users are purchasing synthetic exposure to stock performance, not equity.
That distinction becomes more meaningful when compared to emerging platforms pursuing more comprehensive onchain equity models.
Meanwhile, the landscape for tokenized traditional assets is becoming increasingly crowded, with major players like Bybit, Kraken and Robinhood all introducing their own versions while carefully navigating regulatory boundaries.
Bitrue’s strength lies in simplicity and immediate utility, but the coming wave of more programmable tokenized assets may force all participants to reconsider what value they’re really providing beyond synthetic tracking.
