Binance said its Direct Stocks product crossed $1 billion in U.S. equities acquired within 30 days of launch.
Summary
- Binance’s Direct Stocks crossed $1B in user-held U.S. equities within 30 days of launch globally.
- Emerging markets made up 73% of users, showing demand for app-based access to U.S. stocks.
- Stablecoins helped users buy fractional equities beside crypto without traditional brokerage and bank transfer barriers.
The product went live on June 1 and gives eligible users access to more than 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs in the same app they use for crypto.
The exchange said the product also processed close to $3 billion in trading volume during the same period. The 30-day window included 22 trading days, according to a Binance blog post.
Binance said about 73% of Direct Stocks users came from emerging markets. The company framed the data around demand from regions where brokerage accounts, bank wires, minimum balances, and foreign market access have often limited retail participation.
Binance stock access gains early demand
Direct Stocks lets users buy fractional U.S. stocks and ETFs with stablecoins and selected crypto balances. As previously reported, Binance opened U.S. stock trading access for eligible non-U.S. users in June, offering more than 7,000 equities and ETFs with purchases starting from $5.
The product places equities beside crypto balances in one interface. Binance said the setup removes some steps tied to traditional brokerage access, including separate bank transfers and new account flows. The company said users acquired more than $150 million in U.S. equities per day during the first 30 days.
Emerging markets drive the user base
Binance said emerging markets accounted for most Direct Stocks users. The company also said about one in seven visitors to its stock trading page registered an account, and nearly 90% of those new sign-ups placed a trade.
The data follows earlier Binance Research claims about broader demand for equity access through crypto exchanges. As reported by crypto.news, Binance Research projected that crypto exchanges could bring 300 million new equity investors and $2 trillion in new capital into global stock markets by 2031. The report linked that growth to stablecoins, crypto exchange reach, and users in underbanked regions.
Shunyet Jan, Binance’s Head of Spot and Derivatives Business, said, “A billion dollars in 30 days is a sign of the demand that’s been waiting decades for a door to walk through.” He added that Binance built the product for users who “never had a way in.”
Stock trading uses broker-linked rails
Binance does not custody the securities traded through Direct Stocks. Binance disclosed an Alpaca stake as its stock trading service expanded. Nest Trading acts as introducing broker, while Alpaca handles execution, clearing, settlement, custody, dividends, and corporate actions.
The model gives Binance exposure to traditional equities while keeping securities activity linked to regulated brokerage partners. Users fund stock purchases with stablecoins and supported crypto assets. Binance said the product targets eligible users outside the U.S.
Tokenized equity race widens
The direct stock rollout comes as exchanges add more equity-linked products. Crypto.news reported that Binance launched bStocks, letting eligible users convert supported U.S. stock holdings into tokenized assets that can trade around the clock.
Moreover, other exchanges are also moving into stock access. Bitget launched Stock+, allowing eligible users to buy real U.S. stocks with crypto converted into USDC through regulated brokers.
Binance said technology stocks made up the largest share of Direct Stocks holdings. It said the technology sector accounted for about 71% of holdings, while semiconductor names made up around 48%. The company also projected that Direct Stocks could exceed $10 billion by the end of 2026 if current growth continues, though it said the projection was illustrative and not a guarantee.
