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On Monday, Robinhood, the trading platform for stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies, announced the launch of tokenized shares for OpenAI and SpaceX, available to users in Europe.
Robinhood stated that European Union users who register to trade stock tokens by July 7 will be gifted 5 euros worth of tokens for both OpenAI and SpaceX. CNBC has reported that the company is releasing $1 million in OpenAI tokens and $500,000 in SpaceX tokens.
This announcement boosted Robinhood’s stock by nearly 13%, propelling it to a new all-time high.
While this development is beneficial for Robinhood, OpenAI’s response was far from enthusiastic, clearly asserting their position through a tweet: “These ‘OpenAI tokens’ are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it. Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval—we did not approve any transfer. Please be careful.”
These “OpenAI tokens” are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it. Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval—we did not approve any transfer.
Please be careful.— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) July 2, 2025
In an interview with TechCrunch, Robinhood spokesperson Rouky Diallo clarified that the OpenAI tokens initiative is part of a strategy to offer investors indirect exposure to OpenAI through Robinhood’s ownership investment in a special purpose vehicle (SPV). An SPV, as defined by Investopedia, is a subsidiary established by a parent company to manage financial risk separately.
Related: Robinhood Strategies Could Be a Game-Changer for Young Investors
TechCrunch noted that the token initiative indicates that Robinhood holds shares in an SPV, which controls several OpenAI shares, effectively providing ownership of the vehicle that holds OpenAI shares rather than direct ownership of OpenAI shares.
Robinhood’s help center further elaborated: “When purchasing stock tokens, you are not acquiring actual stocks — you are engaging with tokenized contracts that track their prices, recorded on a blockchain. You have the option to buy, sell, or hold these stock tokens, but they cannot be transferred to other wallets or platforms at this time.”
If this seems complex, it might be prudent to consider whether this investment aligns with your understanding. However, if you grasp these concepts, you might have a penchant for tech-driven investment.
On Monday, Robinhood, the trading platform for stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies, announced the launch of tokenized shares for OpenAI and SpaceX, available to users in Europe.
Robinhood stated that European Union users who register to trade stock tokens by July 7 will be gifted 5 euros worth of tokens for both OpenAI and SpaceX. CNBC has reported that the company is releasing $1 million in OpenAI tokens and $500,000 in SpaceX tokens.
This announcement boosted Robinhood’s stock by nearly 13%, propelling it to a new all-time high.
### Hustle Verdict
Our take is that Robinhood’s introduction of tokenized shares for high-profile companies like OpenAI and SpaceX signifies a pivotal shift in how retail investors can engage with emerging tech assets. We believe this innovative strategy could democratize access to shares that were previously out of reach for many, potentially reshaping investment behaviors in the coming years. The bottom line is this move could set a new standard in the trading landscape, aligning with the growing demand for accessible and flexible investment options.
