A couple of days ago, Binance announced that non-US users can now directly trade over 7,000 US stocks and ETFs on the platform. This is Binance's first large-scale entry into traditional stock trading.
The key points of this “upgrade”:
1️⃣Trade crypto + buy US stocks in the same account, super convenient
2️⃣Supports fractional shares, buy with as little as $5
3️⃣24/5 around-the-clock trading (no longer restricted to US stock hours 9:30-16:00)
4️⃣Zero commission (note there is a minimum fee)
5️⃣Executed and cleared by Alpaca in the background
6️⃣Automatic dividend receipt
‼️More importantly, they are about to launch their own bStocks (tokenized stocks).
✏️What are bStocks?
You first buy real US stocks on Binance, then convert them into on-chain bStocks (primarily on BNB Chain) with one click, turning your stock holdings into assets that can be put on-chain, transferred, and used in DeFi.
This is not direct ownership of US stocks, but a certificate backed by a compliant issuer, enabling near-instant settlement + DeFi applications.
Of course, all of this still requires regulatory approval. After approval, what’s the difference from the current xStocks?
From a user perspective, the main differences are:
1️⃣Acquisition method: xStocks are purchased directly by users with stablecoins on CEX or DEX; bStocks are bought as real shares on Binance first and then converted to tokens with one click (seamless conversion for Binance users)
2️⃣Ecosystem: xStocks are mature in Solana DeFi; bStocks follow the BNB Chain + Binance ecosystem
3️⃣Number of stocks: bStocks are expected to cover 7000+ listings on Binance, far more than xStocks’ current hundred or so
4️⃣Integration: bStocks win (direct conversion of holdings); xStocks are more independent and flexible
5️⃣Suitable users: xStocks suit those who like DeFi and want independent operation, while bStocks suit heavy Binance users
In short, xStocks are like an independent on-chain US stock product; bStocks turn the US stocks you’ve already bought directly into an on-chain version.
💡The significance of this
Binance’s move not only greatly lowers the barrier to US stocks, but also attempts to truly bridge TradFi (traditional finance) and DeFi.
For users worldwide (especially in Asia and Latin America), it may soon be possible to complete crypto + US stocks + DeFi operations all in one app with the same funds.
Of course, risks still need attention: these products carry counterparty risk and regulatory uncertainty, and are still not the same as direct share ownership (no voting rights).
If you are a heavy Binance user, do you think bStocks will change your investment habits once they launch?