Arcus, a platform built by dYdX Labs, has gone live on Robinhood Chain. It offers 95 tokenized stocks and 35 perpetual futures. Within its first weeks, the platform racked up $33 million in trading volume.
What Arcus brings to Robinhood Chain
Tokenized stocks let users trade traditional equities on-chain without leaving the crypto ecosystem. Arcus lists 95 of them, covering major companies. The platform also offers 35 perpetual futures — contracts that let traders bet on price moves without an expiry date. Both products run on Robinhood Chain, a network designed for speed and low fees.
DYdX Labs built Arcus. The same team behind the dYdX decentralized exchange. They’re bringing their experience in perpetual futures to a new chain. Robinhood Chain, launched by the trading app Robinhood, aims to bridge traditional finance and crypto.
The $33 million milestone
That volume figure — $33 million — covers the first few weeks of trading. It’s a modest start compared to established exchanges, but notable for a brand-new platform on a relatively new chain. The number suggests early interest from traders who want tokenized stocks alongside crypto derivatives.
No breakdown of volume between stocks and futures was provided. But the mix of 95 stocks and 35 perps gives users options. The platform is still in its early days, and volume could grow as more traders discover it.
Why tokenized stocks matter
Tokenized stocks represent shares of real companies, but they trade on a blockchain. That means they can be bought, sold, and held in a crypto wallet. Settlement happens on-chain, potentially faster than traditional stock settlement. For Robinhood Chain, it’s a way to offer equities without a broker-dealer license for each stock.
Perpetual futures are a different beast. They’re popular in crypto for leveraged trading. Arcus offers them alongside stocks, creating a one-stop shop for both asset types. That’s a rare combo in the crypto world.
What’s next for Arcus
The platform is live now. Traders can access the tokenized assets through Robinhood Chain. No word yet on whether Arcus will add more stocks or futures. For now, the $33 million in volume is a starting point. The real test will be whether that number keeps climbing.
