Binance launches tokenized securities with Ondo

Binance has begun offering tokenized securities on its Binance Alpha platform, the company said in a Tuesday announcement. The cryptocurrency exchange is partnering with Ondo, a blockchain-based platform focused on tokenizing real-world assets such as securities and exchange-traded funds.

In its statement, Binance said the update "provides a seamless and powerful trading experience," allowing users to access on‑chain assets through an interface similar to the existing Binance Exchange. The move marks a return to tokenized securities for Binance after it previously discontinued tokenized stock offerings.

Tokenization converts real-world assets, including real estate, commodities, and financial instruments, into blockchain-based tokens that can be traded and held in fractional amounts. Ondo’s model centers on bringing such tokenized versions of securities and ETFs on-chain, aligning with Binance Alpha’s new product set.

Binance said users would be able to "enjoy the familiar experience" of its exchange combined with the "innovative opportunities" of on-chain assets. The firm positioned the launch as part of a broader shift in digital assets toward tokenized market infrastructure rather than only cryptocurrency trading.

The new tokenized securities product will not be available to users in the United States, according to reporting cited in the announcement. Binance previously halted tokenized stock trading, which had included tokens linked to companies such as Apple (AAPL) and Tesla (TSLA), amid scrutiny from financial regulators in the United Kingdom and Germany.

The latest launch is described as a comeback for Binance’s tokenization efforts but is structured differently from its earlier stock tokens. The firm is now emphasizing collaboration with a specialist tokenization platform and positioning the service within a more institutional-style, Alpha-branded environment.

The Binance-Ondo initiative comes as multiple financial and market infrastructure players explore tokenization. A recent report noted that real-world asset tokenization, rather than stablecoins, represented the crypto sector’s first sustained play for institutional finance, highlighting features such as continuous trading, instant settlement, and programmable ownership.

Other firms are pursuing similar concepts. Blockchain-based lender Figure has announced plans to expand investor access to its On‑Chain Public Equity Network and distribute blockchain-native public equities via regulated brokerages and self-custody wallets. In January, the New York Stock Exchange said it was working on a platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities, subject to regulatory approvals.

Despite advances in infrastructure, liquidity remains a key issue for tokenized real‑world assets. A February report cited in the Binance announcement observed that, although public blockchains run continuously and settlement finality can be achieved in minutes or seconds, trading volumes in many tokenized markets are still thin.

The report also noted that bid‑ask spreads for many tokenized assets remain wide, and investors’ ability to exit positions often depends on issuer discretion and off‑chain legal processes. These characteristics distinguish tokenized securities from traditional, deep public markets, even as exchanges and platforms seek to bridge the gap.