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In a move aimed at bridging traditional markets and the crypto world, Telegram announced that its integrated wallet, TON Wallet, will host a new service called xStocks—developed jointly by Kraken and Backed—which allows users to trade tokenised stocks and ETFs directly in the app. According to the announcement, these tokens can be purchased starting from $1 and transferred free of charge to other users.
xStocks are digital tokens that represent real-world equities and exchange-traded funds. Each token is backed on a 1:1 basis by the underlying asset, meaning a token labelled for a US share corresponds to an actual share held in reserve by Backed.
With the Telegram wallet integration, users can invest in popular US stocks and ETFs—from companies like Amazon and Tesla to the S&P 500 ETF—without leaving the chat environment.
The initial service offering reportedly includes around 35 equities and ETFs, with a planned expansion to more than 60 assets by year-end.
By embedding stock trading into Telegram, the partners aim to dramatically lower the barrier to entry for retail investors. Telegram claims to reach a user base of over 100 million through its wallet system, potentially giving global retail investors instantaneous access to tokenised U.S. equities.
Trading is available 24 hours a day, five days a week, and token investments begin as low as $1—features designed to attract users who might not have engaged with traditional brokerage platforms.
Despite the broad accessibility, regulatory and geographic constraints remain. xStocks are not available to U.S. persons, and further limitations may apply depending on jurisdiction.
Looking ahead, the Telegram service is set to extend into the self-custodial TON blockchain wallet, enabling even greater user freedom to hold and transfer tokenised stocks beyond the Telegram-hosted interface.
The launch of xStocks within Telegram marks a significant step toward merging traditional financial assets with blockchain-native platforms.
By offering tokenised shares via a messaging app, the initiative could reshape how retail investors access global stock markets—though regulatory clarity and jurisdictional coverage will determine the pace and extent of adoption.
We also reported that CFTC moves to integrate stablecoins into U.S. derivatives markets.