Telegram Wallet to Launch Tokenized Equities with Kraken and Backed Integration

Highlights:

• Wallet in Telegram has teamed up with Kraken and Backed to let users trade tokenized US equities inside the app.
• The wallet will launch tokenized stocks in emerging markets with over 60 assets planned by the end of this year.
• The commission-free trading on tokenized equities will run until 2025 before withdrawal fees apply on the new platform.

Wallet in Telegram has partnered with Kraken and Backed to introduce tokenized United States equities through the xStocks platform. The rollout begins in October with 35 tokenized assets and will expand to more than 60 by the end of 2025. The launch will start inside the custodial Wallet in Telegram before expanding to the self-custodial TON Wallet later in the year.

🚨JUST IN: WALLET IN TELEGRAM PARTNERS WITH KRAKEN AND BACKED TO LAUNCH 60 TOKENIZED US EQUITIES INCLUDING NVDA AND MSTR VIA XSTOCKS

— BSCN Headlines (@BSCNheadlines) October 2, 2025

The first set of tokenized equities will include popular names such as Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, Coinbase, and Robinhood. Each asset will be issued as a tokenized version of a stock or exchange-traded fund. The platform confirmed that the tokens will remain fully backed on a one-to-one basis with the underlying shares. Users will be able to trade these assets directly in the “Stocks and ETFs” section of the app.

The company framed the initiative as a way to make traditional financial products more accessible. Millions of Telegram users already engage with the wallet for digital assets. The new addition will now allow them to access equities without exiting the messaging platform. The approach is meant to blend convenience and financial inclusion, particularly for users who are less exposed to the international markets.

Compliance Market Access and Telegram Wallet to Launch in Emerging Economies

Wallet in Telegram emphasized compliance as a priority in its rollout of tokenized assets. A spokesperson said the company designed xStocks with transparency and clear investor disclosures. Every token will remain fully collateralized, which the platform says will set it apart from other tokenized stock products.

The rollout will exclude Bitcoin ETFs. However, Bitcoin will continue to remain available inside the wallet as a cryptocurrency purchase. The company said it decided to avoid regulatory concerns tied to exchange-traded crypto funds. The focus instead lies in delivering a product that regulators can review with fewer barriers.

The initial launch will focus on emerging economies. Wallet in Telegram said this priority aligns with Backed’s wider focus on markets where financial infrastructure remains underdeveloped. Officials did not immediately disclose which countries will join the first phase of the launch. However, earlier integrations by Backed have supported more than 170 jurisdictions while excluding the United States and sanctioned regions.

Trading of tokenized stocks and ETFs will remain commission-free until the end of 2025. Withdrawal fees will apply after the promotional period. The company hopes that this incentive will motivate adoption in areas where users are trying tokenized equities out for the first time. The integration also provides a compliance and usability test ground ahead of wider expansion.

Tokenization Trend Expands Beyond Equities

The new feature of Telegram Wallet is a broader trend in the tokenization of financial markets. The plan will address the gap between conventional finance and blockchain-enabled accessibility. Over the recent years, tokenized assets have expanded to include stocks, ETFs, and even bonds, with major international companies joining. BlackRock and other players have already made significant investments in tokenization platforms and tokenization products such as ETFs, as competition from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan increases.

🧠 BlackRock is exploring tokenized ETFs — a move that could bring 24/7 trading, DeFi composability, and on-chain settlement to traditional finance.

If approved, it may redefine how ETFs are issued, traded, and used as collateral in crypto.

🔗 Discuss more on SoSoValue:… pic.twitter.com/6xE10jLFK9

— SoSoValue (@SoSoValueCrypto) September 12, 2025

Kraken executives described the partnership as an effort to meet users in the platforms they already use daily. With Telegram’s global reach, the collaboration could expose hundreds of millions to tokenized investment products. Analysts view this as one of the largest consumer-facing launches of tokenized equities to date.

Telegram Wallet already teased a larger roadmap. In addition to equities and ETFs, the platform may expand to include tokenized bonds and other real-world assets. The strategy indicates that Telegram has intentions of transforming its wallet into a hub of both digital and non-digital financial applications.