Stocks in Your Chat: Telegram’s xStocks Brings 60 Tokenized Equities Live
Title: Stocks in Your Chat: How Telegram’s xStocks Brings 60 Tokenized Equities Live
Introduction Imagine trading Apple or Tesla shares directly within your favorite messaging app. By October 2025, Telegram’s built-in Wallet will deliver that vision, integrating xStocks—the tokenized equities platform powered by Backed Finance—with Kraken Custody. This landmark launch leverages TON blockchain smart contracts, real-world asset (RWA) backing, and instant on-chain settlement to merge DeFi innovation with traditional brokerage models.
Telegram xStocks Integration: Tokenized Equities in Your Chat Telegram has partnered with Backed Finance and Kraken Custody to list fully collateralized, 1:1 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs under a new “Stocks & ETFs” tab. The initial rollout features 35 blue-chip assets—such as Coinbase (COINx) and Robinhood (HOODx)—expanding to 60 by year-end 2025. Targeting emerging markets first, Telegram will refine the user experience and ensure regulatory compliance before a global release. Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder, calls this a step toward democratizing finance in the TON ecosystem.
Under the Hood: TON Blockchain, RWA Backing, and 24/5 Settlement To understand how this seamless experience is possible, let’s explore the underlying technology. • TON Smart Contracts and Scalability: Using infinite sharding and FunC-based contracts, TON distributes load across subchains, delivering high throughput and minimal fees. • 1:1 RWA Collateralization: Backed Finance issues xStocks as SPL tokens on Solana, each backed by actual shares held in segregated Swiss-regulated accounts, with Kraken Custody handling institutional-grade safekeeping and audits. • 24/5 On-Chain Settlement: Trades clear instantly on-chain every weekday, and tokens can even be self-custodied for weekend trading.
These capabilities—instant settlement and continuous availability—pave the way for new trading paradigms.
Regulatory Considerations Compliance is critical for a global rollout. xStocks are issued under a regulated prospectus, requiring KYC/AML verification and excluding residents of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia from the Telegram and Kraken offerings. This phased approach ensures adherence to evolving securities laws while opening markets in eligible jurisdictions.
Roadmap to Q4 2025 and Beyond After the custodial launch in Telegram Wallet, Q4 2025 will deliver xStocks support in TON Wallet, Telegram’s self-custodial solution. This upgrade unlocks full DeFi composability: users can stake xStocks in mini-apps and Web3 protocols on TON without intermediaries.
Practical Application: Getting Started and Real-World Examples With launch dates on the horizon, here’s how to seize this opportunity today.
- Use the TON Bridge (lock-and-mint) to transfer USDC from Ethereum or BNB Smart Chain.
- Or, leverage cross-chain services like Layerswap directly into Telegram Wallet.
Trading Fees and Spreads • Commission-free trading in Wallet until December 31, 2025 (standard withdrawal fees apply thereafter). • On Kraken, USD G or USD purchases incur no fees; other pairs may carry up to a 1% spread.
DeFi Yield Strategies • Provide TON–USDT liquidity on STON.fi for boosted yields (500,000 TON incentives). • Stake xStock–stablecoin LP tokens in protocols like Kamino to earn variable interest.
Case Studies: Apple, Tesla, and S&P 500 Strategies • Fractional Exposure: Buy as little as $1 of AAPLx or TSLAx in Telegram and reinvest dividends automatically. • Solana LP: Provide AAPLx–USDC liquidity on Raydium for trading fees and farming rewards. • Hedged Yield: Borrow against xStocks on Kamino, supply stablecoins on DeDust, and execute hedged arbitrage.
Risks & Considerations • Smart-contract vulnerabilities: Rely on audited code and monitor updates. • Liquidity risk: Partial slippage may occur in thin markets; diversify across pools. • Regulatory changes: Future sanctions or rule shifts could affect eligibility and trading hours.
Conclusion Telegram’s xStocks rollout marks a watershed in tokenized finance, embedding real-world equities into the world’s favorite messaging app. By combining TON’s scalable smart contracts, institutional RWA custody, and near-continuous settlement, this integration is poised to disrupt neo-broker models and broaden market access. Crypto investors can start bridging USDC, leverage fee-free trading windows, and deploy DeFi yield strategies—while carefully managing risks and tracking performance with analytics tools like TokenVitals.