Ondo Finance has secured regulatory approval to offer tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) across the European Economic Area. The development opens the door to blockchain-enabled access for over 500 million investors in 30 countries.
Ondo Onchain Asset Rollout Enabled by Regulatory Approval
The approval was granted by Liechtenstein’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) and applies throughout the EEA. This is thanks to passporting rules recognized by all EU member states, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein itself.
Ondo Global Markets, the regulated entity behind these offerings, now has clearance to tokenize and list U.S. stocks, ETFs, and related assets on its public-facing blockchain platform. This enables both retail and institutional investors to hold and trade assets. These assets include S&P 500 ETFs and shares of major U.S. companies 24/7, regardless of market hour restrictions.
Tokenized assets on Ondo’s platform have full backing by the underlying securities. Additionally, all trades executed and settled on-chain to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance. The company says its platform, with $315 million in total value locked and over $1 billion in trading volume since launch, offers institutional-grade custody, identity verification, and investor protections.
Expanding Digital Asset Access
The ability for European investors to access tokenized stocks and ETFs directly through blockchain introduces several advantages. These include 24/7 market access, faster settlements, reduced transaction costs, and greater transparency over asset holdings and trades. Users can onboard via standard know-your-customer (KYC) protocols, with tokens representing direct claims on the underlying securities held in custody.
Ondo’s entry into the regulated European digital asset market could act as a catalyst for broader adoption of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Traditional financial institutions in Europe could monitor the initiative, as regulatory approval by the FMA establishes a blueprint for future offerings and potential collaboration.
Ondo Finance aims to further expand its tokenized catalog to over 1,000 assets by the end of 2025, as part of a vision to close the gap between traditional securities markets and new blockchain-based financial services.
READ MORE: Crypto Market Rally is Happening: Is This the Start of a Bull Run?
