The line between crypto and traditional finance just blurred in a way nobody expected. Tokenized equities, once a niche experiment, are coming straight into Telegram Wallet. This is thanks to a partnership with Kraken and Backed. The first wave of access won’t land in New York or London. However, it will in emerging markets. This marks one of the boldest attempts yet to democratise Wall Street through blockchain.
Telegram Wallet Brings xStocks With Kraken And Backed
The announcement dropped like a spark at Token2024 Singapore. Telegram Wallet is rolling out tokenized U.S. equities and ETFs through xStocks. These are backed 1:1 with the underlying assets. The offering kicks off in October 2025 with 35 tokenized stocks, including MicroStrategy (MSTR), Nvidia (NVDA), Robinhood (HOODX), and Coinbase (COINX). By year’s end, the list expands to 60+ assets, all fully collateralized. They will also be issued under a compliant prospectus.
This isn’t another fly-by-night token scheme. Backed and Kraken bring institutional-grade security and transparency. These are issues that have plagued earlier tokenization projects. As Wallet in Telegram’s spokesperson told Cointelegraph, “The rollout will start in a limited number of markets as we carefully test adoption and user experience.” Translation? Compliance first, mass adoption next.
For now, Bitcoin ETFs are excluded. However, Bitcoin itself remains available as a crypto asset within the custodial wallet. Telegram Wallet will feature a dedicated section for stocks and ETFs. There is commission-free trading until the end of 2025. Only standard withdrawal fees apply afterward.
Self-Custody On The Horizon
The initial rollout will take place inside Wallet in Telegram, the custodial app used by millions for crypto payments. But the bigger shift arrives in Q4 2025, when xStocks expands to TON Wallet, a self-custodial solution. That means investors will no longer need to rely on custodians—they’ll control their tokenized equities directly on-chain.
For crypto natives, this is where the narrative turns electric. Custodial solutions may bring convenience. However, self-custody resonates with the ethos of decentralization. The expansion into TON Wallet signals that Telegram isn’t just dipping a toe into tokenized finance. It’s preparing to plant both feet firmly in.
Emerging markets remain the top priority for launch. Previous xStocks integrations with payment platforms like Alchemy Pay restricted access in the U.S. and sanctioned jurisdictions. Instead, they targeted 170+ countries. Telegram plans to follow a similar playbook, giving global investors exposure to U.S. equities without the friction of traditional brokers.
Telegram Wallet And The New Era Of Tokenized Finance
From a regulatory angle, the promise of 1:1 collateralization with transparent investor disclosures sets xStocks apart. It’s not a synthetic representation; it’s a blockchain-wrapped mirror of the real thing. That’s a big deal for both regulators and institutions, who are watching tokenization closely as it gains traction worldwide.
For retail investors, the attraction is simple: fractionalized access to U.S. equities from a Telegram chat window. No broker accounts, no banking hoops—just global exposure in seconds. Emerging economies, where access to traditional equity markets has always been limited, now view this as more than innovation. It as a financial reset.
The timing couldn’t be more symbolic. Just days before the rollout, Telegram founder Pavel Durov reiterated his long-standing faith in Bitcoin. He revealed that he has held thousands of BTC since 2013. Now, as Telegram Wallet moves to tokenize real-world assets, Durov’s platform positions itself as a bridge. It links crypto-native finance and traditional equity markets.
The question isn’t whether tokenized equities will catch on—it’s how fast. And with Telegram’s massive user base, the next stage of tokenization may not wait for Wall Street’s approval. It may already be happening in your Telegram chats.
