Robinhood Faces Scrutiny from European Bank Over Tokenized Stock Offerings 

Lithuania’s central bank has reached out to Robinhood for further details regarding its newly launched stock token products, following a public distancing by OpenAI from the initiative.

The Bank of Lithuania confirmed on Monday that it has requested clarification on the tokenization of shares for high-profile private companies such as OpenAI and SpaceX. Robinhood’s offering, introduced to EU users on June 30, allows investment in tokenized equities — digital representations of shares — via blockchain technology.

Regulatory scrutiny intensifies

Giedrius Šniukas, a spokesperson for the Lithuanian central bank, told CNBC that authorities are reviewing both the structure of the tokens and how they are marketed. “We have contacted Robinhood and are awaiting clarifications regarding the structure of OpenAI and SpaceX stock tokens as well as the related consumer communication,” he said.

The Bank emphasized that investor information must be delivered in “clear, fair, and non-misleading language,” and stated that no final regulatory stance will be taken until Robinhood responds.

As the primary regulator for Robinhood’s European operations, the Bank of Lithuania oversees the firm’s licensed activities as a broker and crypto asset service provider within the EU.

READ MORE:

Billionaire Says ‘Sell Your House, Buy Bitcoin’: Fiat Collapse Is Coming

OpenAI distances itself

The probe follows concerns raised by OpenAI last week, after the company publicly disassociated itself from Robinhood’s tokenization product. While the offering is positioned as a way for users to invest in tokenized shares of well-known companies, including those that are not publicly traded, questions remain about whether the underlying assets are legally accessible or even authorized for such treatment.

Robinhood has yet to issue a public response to the regulatory request or OpenAI’s statement. The situation highlights growing friction between fintech innovation and EU financial oversight, particularly as tokenized financial instruments become more prevalent in the digital investing landscape.

Kosta Gushterov

Kosta has been working in the crypto industry for over 4 years. He strives to present different perspectives on a given topic and enjoys the sector for its transparency and dynamism. In his work, he focuses on balanced coverage of events and developments in the crypto space, providing information to his readers from a neutral perspective.