Binance Goes Beyond Crypto, Starts Free U. S. Stock Trading

Binance now lets users trade over 7, 000 U. S. stocks and ETFs without paying a fee. The platform offers fractional shares that can start as low as $5, and trading is open 24 hours a day for five days each week. Binance handles the stock side through Nest Trading Limited, a broker‑dealer licensed in Abu Dhabi Global Market. The company also plans to add tokenized versions of U. S. stocks and ETFs under a new product called “bStocks. ” These digital shares would mainly be bought with USDC, but Binance also supports BNB, USDT, USD1 and United Stables’ U token. When the tokens are sold, the money will come out in USDC. Chief Executive Richard Teng said that tokenization can make financial assets easier to access and help link traditional markets with the digital world. Binance’s move is part of a larger strategy to turn its platform into a one‑stop shop for both crypto and conventional investments.Besides stock trading, Binance will offer a Fully Paid Securities Lending program that lets users lend out their shares and earn extra income. The launch puts Binance in direct competition with other crypto exchanges that have recently added equity services, such as Coinbase and Kraken. Kraken plans to launch commission‑free trading for more than 11, 000 U. S. stocks and ETFs in 2025, while Coinbase already offers free trading of fractional shares across the country. Binance’s next step is to bring tokenized securities into play, with bStocks products expected to be issued by BTECH Holdings Ltd. , a special‑purpose vehicle registered in ADGM. The launch of these products will still need regulatory approval, but they fit into Binance’s broader goal of creating a multi‑asset platform that blends investing, trading and blockchain finance.