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Robinhood and dYdX Labs have unveiled Arcus, a new decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Robinhood Chain, a Layer 2 blockchain powered by Arbitrum technology. The platform enables perpetual trading anRobinhood and dYdX Labs have unveiled Arcus, a new decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Robinhood Chain, a Layer 2 blockchain powered by Arbitrum technology. The platform enables perpetual trading an

Robinhood and dYdX Launch Arcus: The Race for Tokenized Stocks and 24/7 Trading Is Heating Up

#Industry Perspectives

4$0.008907-1.19%

DYDX$0.12877+0.28%

DEFI$0.0001875+0.21%

Author: Nguyen Rin Hoang

2026/07/07 19:59

Robinhood and dYdX Labs have unveiled Arcus, a new decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Robinhood Chain, a Layer 2 blockchain powered by Arbitrum technology. The platform enables perpetual trading and access to 95 tokenized stocks with zero trading fees, aiming to bring the U.S. equity market to global investors through a 24/7 trading model.

Arcus not only represents Robinhood's latest step toward blockchain-based capital markets, but also highlights the growing convergence between traditional finance, DeFi, and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). At the same time, it is widely viewed as a direct competitive response to Hyperliquid, the rapidly expanding decentralized perpetual trading platform.

Key Takeaways

Robinhood and dYdX Labs have launched the Arcus DEX on Robinhood Chain.

Arcus supports 95 tokenized stocks available for trading around the clock.

Global users can access U.S. equity markets without traditional trading-hour restrictions.

The platform aims to combine tokenized equities, perpetual contracts, and digital assets within a single ecosystem.

Arcus represents a new front in the competition against Hyperliquid and other decentralized perpetual exchanges.

Asset tokenization is becoming a strategic trend across global financial markets.

What Is Arcus?

Arcus is a next-generation decentralized exchange developed by dYdX Labs in collaboration with Robinhood Crypto.

The platform operates on Robinhood Chain, an EVM-compatible Layer 2 blockchain built using Arbitrum technology.

Unlike traditional DEXs that primarily focus on cryptocurrencies, Arcus seeks to integrate multiple asset classes within one trading infrastructure, including:

Tokenized stocks

Perpetual contracts

Tokenized real-world assets

Cryptocurrency markets

Potential access to private market assets in the future

According to initial announcements, Arcus currently offers spot trading for 95 tokenized stocks and plans to expand into perpetual markets over time.

Why Is Robinhood Building Robinhood Chain?

For years, Robinhood has primarily been recognized as a retail stock trading platform.

However, the rapid rise of blockchain technology has encouraged the company to expand aggressively into digital assets.

Robinhood Chain reflects the firm's long-term vision.

Building Onchain Financial Infrastructure

Rather than simply offering a trading interface, Robinhood aims to own the underlying blockchain infrastructure supporting:

Tokenized stocks

Stablecoins

Digitized real-world assets

Onchain lending

DeFi products

Enabling 24/7 Trading

One of the biggest limitations of traditional stock markets is limited operating hours.

For example:

U.S. markets trade for roughly 6.5 hours per day.

Markets close during weekends.

Trading pauses for public holidays.

Blockchain networks, by contrast, operate continuously.

This enables investors in:

Asia

Europe

The Middle East

Latin America

to access financial assets at any time.

Expanding International Access

Tokenization helps Robinhood overcome geographical barriers.

Investors outside the United States may gain easier access to U.S. financial assets without needing brokerage accounts at traditional institutions.

How Could Tokenized Stocks Transform Financial Markets?

Arcus arrives at a time when asset tokenization is becoming one of Wall Street's most significant trends.

At its core, stock tokenization converts the economic rights associated with equities into blockchain-based tokens.

This offers several advantages.

Continuous 24/7 Trading

Investors no longer need to wait for markets to open.

Trading activity can occur at any time.

Reduced Intermediary Costs

Blockchain infrastructure can eliminate several traditional layers, including:

Central securities depositories

Clearing houses

Intermediary brokerage firms

Greater Global Accessibility

International investors may gain easier access to U.S. capital markets.

Programmable Assets

Tokenized securities can potentially:

Participate in DeFi protocols

Serve as collateral

Move across multiple blockchain networks

Integrate with stablecoins

This is one reason why major financial institutions are increasingly investing in tokenization initiatives.

Is Arcus Competing Directly With Hyperliquid?

The answer is yes.

Over the past two years, Hyperliquid has emerged as one of the fastest-growing decentralized perpetual exchanges in crypto.

Its strengths include:

High trading volumes

Centralized exchange-like user experience

Fast execution speeds

Deep liquidity

However, Hyperliquid remains largely focused on crypto-native assets.

Arcus is pursuing a broader strategy.

Rather than concentrating solely on digital currencies, the platform seeks to integrate:

Equities

Perpetual products

Real-world assets

Traditional capital markets

If successful, Arcus could potentially expand beyond the current boundaries of DeFi.

dYdX Is Entering a New Phase

The launch of Arcus also suggests that dYdX Labs is entering a new stage of development.

For years, dYdX has been among the largest derivatives protocols in DeFi.

Yet the crypto perpetual market is becoming increasingly competitive with the rise of:

Hyperliquid

Vertex

Drift

Aevo

Expanding into tokenized equities may allow dYdX to reach an entirely new customer segment.

It could also reduce the protocol's dependence on crypto market cycles.

Tokenization Is Becoming Wall Street's Biggest Theme

Arcus is not an isolated case.

Numerous financial institutions are currently participating in the tokenization race.

Areas attracting significant attention include:

Equities

Bonds

Investment funds

Bank deposits

Real estate

Commodities

Many industry experts believe that in the future, a large share of financial assets could exist as blockchain-based tokens.

Such a system would enable markets that are:

Open 24/7

Settled instantly

Globally interoperable

Significantly more cost-efficient

Arcus may represent one of the clearest examples of this evolving trend.

Implications for Robinhood and DeFi

Robinhood's deeper involvement in blockchain infrastructure illustrates how the distinction between traditional fintech and DeFi is becoming increasingly blurred.

If Arcus achieves meaningful scale, the market could see:

Greater adoption of onchain stock trading

New capital inflows from traditional investors

Rising demand for stablecoins

Accelerated growth in tokenized real-world assets

Intensifying competition among next-generation DEXs

This could mark the early stages of a financial system that operates entirely on blockchain infrastructure.

Conclusion

Arcus represents an important milestone in the blockchainization of global capital markets. By combining tokenized stocks, 24/7 trading, and perpetual products within a decentralized platform, Robinhood and dYdX are betting on a future in which every asset class can be traded onchain.

Although regulatory challenges and scalability concerns remain, Arcus demonstrates that tokenization is no longer merely an experimental concept but is increasingly becoming part of next-generation financial infrastructure.

FAQ

What is Arcus?

Arcus is a decentralized exchange developed by dYdX Labs and Robinhood Crypto on Robinhood Chain.

What assets does Arcus support?

The platform currently supports 95 tokenized stocks and plans to expand into perpetual trading.

What is Robinhood Chain?

Robinhood Chain is Robinhood's Layer 2 blockchain built using Arbitrum technology to support tokenized assets and onchain financial applications.

Does Arcus compete with Hyperliquid?

Yes. Arcus is widely viewed as a potential competitor to Hyperliquid in the decentralized perpetual trading sector.

Why are tokenized stocks important?

Tokenization enables stocks to trade 24/7, reduces intermediary costs, and broadens access for global investors.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or professional advice. Always conduct your own research, consider your financial situation, and, if necessary, consult with a licensed professional before making any decisions.

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