Crypto.com expands into U.S. equities via tokenized derivatives

These derivatives are designed to mirror the price performance of major equities such as Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple, alongside gold and silver-backed ETFs like SPDR Gold Shares. While the platform offers continuous market access, users do not acquire legal ownership or shareholder rights. Instead, the structure provides synthetic exposure, with Foris Capital CY Limited—a firm acquired by Crypto.com in 2025—issuing the products under a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive license.

To support the offering, the underlying assets are held in custody with Alpaca, a U.S.-regulated broker-dealer that facilitates the vast majority of the tokenized equity market. CEO Kris Marszalek framed the move as a critical step in the company’s multi-asset strategy, emphasizing that the platform aims to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the 24-hour nature of digital asset markets. While trading is currently commission-free for an introductory period, the exchange noted that foreign-exchange charges and spreads may still apply.

This launch places Crypto.com into an increasingly crowded sector where platforms like Binance, Robinhood, and Backpack compete for investors seeking a unified interface for stocks and crypto. The diversity of these offerings highlights a growing divide in the market: some platforms provide synthetic exposure through derivatives, while others utilize fully backed tokens that may carry specific ownership rights. As the tokenized asset sector continues to expand—with estimates suggesting it could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030—traditional infrastructure providers like the DTCC are simultaneously working on their own regulated tokenization frameworks to integrate these assets into conventional clearing systems.