Bybit Goes Big: Tokenizing U. S. IPOs for Everyone

Bybit, the crypto exchange that ranks second worldwide by trade volume, has launched a new service called Bybit IPO Express. The goal is to let people buy tokenized shares in upcoming U. S. public offerings, like the SpaceX IPO that is set to happen soon. This move makes Bybit only the second crypto platform, after Kraken, to offer real‑world IPOs through tokens. Unlike earlier attempts by Binance, Bitget and Gate that let users trade derivatives instead of actual shares, Bybit’s offering uses the xStocks network from its parent company Payward. Investors can now buy digital tokens that represent real shares in companies listed on U. S. exchanges.The service is open to retail investors around the world, giving them a chance to join big IPOs that were previously limited to institutions and select brokerages. Bybit says this marks a new era where traditional finance meets crypto technology, expanding beyond just trading digital assets. Tokenized shares can be traded during extended hours and benefit from DeFi features such as composability, flexibility, and crypto‑native settlement. For users of the platform, it is the first time they can buy IPO shares at the original price without waiting for the secondary market to move them. Bybit’s initiative shows a growing trend of crypto exchanges trying to broaden their services, aiming to make high‑profile IPOs accessible to a wider audience while integrating the speed and openness of blockchain technology.