Stock-linked tokens deployed in DeFi reached an estimated $262.4 million across blockchains at the end of September, up nearly 18-fold from the start of 2026. Base accounted for about $16 million, not the entire total. Tokenized stocks are starting to do more than sit in digital wallets. A September 30 snapshot put approximately $262.4 million of stock-linked assets into decentralized finance applications across multiple blockchains, compared with around $14.66 million at the beginning of the year. These figures reflect assets being used in DeFi, not the total value of all tokenized equities outstanding. That distinction matters as the category grows more complex, with different issuers, networks, and financial rights behind products that can look similar on a trading screen. Solana accounted for about $95.9 million of the DeFi total in the tracked figures, while Robinhood Chain held approximately $79.9 million. Base’s reported share was closer to $16 million. In other words, the growth is spread across several networks rather than belonging to a single exchange or Layer 2. Once stock-linked tokens can be traded in automated markets or pledged as collateral, investors gain new ways to put their positions to work. The trade-off is exposure to protocol risks and liquidity conditions that don’t exist in the same form in an ordinary brokerage account. It’s also important not to assume that every token represents direct legal ownership of an underlying share. Rights, redemption mechanisms, and eligibility rules vary by issuer. The $262 million figure is still small compared with conventional equity markets. But its significance lies in what these assets are being used for: programmable financial activity, not just a blockchain-branded way to hold a stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Tokenized Stocks Hit 262M in DeFi and the Growth Isnt All on Base
1 What are tokenized stocks
Tokenized stocks are blockchain tokens that represent shares of real companies They let you buy and trade stock exposure onchain often 247 without a traditional brokerage account
2 What does 262 million in DeFi mean
Its the total value locked the combined value of tokenized stock assets sitting in DeFi protocols like lending markets and liquidity pools
3 What is Base and why does it matter here
Base is Coinbases Ethereum layer2 network Its been a popular home for tokenized stocks but the headline is that growth is now spreading to other chains too
4 So where else is this growth happening
Across other networks including Ethereum mainnet Arbitrum and newer platforms The takeaway is that tokenized stocks are becoming multichain not tied to one ecosystem
5 Are tokenized stocks the same as real shares
Not exactly Most are backed 11 by real shares held by an issuer but you usually dont get voting rights and you may not be the legal shareholder Always check the issuers structure
6 What are the main benefits
247 trading fractional ownership access from anywhere and the ability to use stocks as collateral or trade them in DeFi things you cant do with regular brokerage shares
7 What are the biggest risks
Issuer and custody risk regulatory uncertainty smart contract bugs and thin liquidity on some tokens
8 Why is multichain growth a good thing
It gives users more choices lower fees on some networks and reduces dependence on a single chain It also signals the market is maturing
9 What problems come with being spread across chains
Fragmented liquidity bridge risk when moving tokens between chains and inconsistent rules or token versions on each network
10 How do I check if a tokenized stock is legit
Look at who issues it whether there are regular audits or attestations of reserves how long its been around and how much liquidity it has
11 Can I earn yield on tokenized stocks in DeFi
Yes