Overseas demand for U.S. equities is growing, says Robinhood’s Johan Kerbrart
The trading app’s senior vice president said tokenization, 24-hour trading, and regulatory shifts are driving broader investor access beyond domestic markets.
What to know:
- Global demand for U.S. equities, especially AI-related stocks, is rising among overseas investors, but access remains more limited outside the United States.
- Robinhood executive Johann Kerbrat said tokenization, instant settlement and 24/7 trading could enable investors to build global portfolios rather than focus on single-country strategies.
- Robinhood has begun offering tokenized stock products in Europe and aims to open private equity and other traditionally restricted assets to a broader base of investors, even as U.S. regulation slowly becomes more accommodating.
Kerbrat said investors should shift from country-specific strategies toward global allocation now that international 24/7 trading platforms are available to them. “It is time for a lot of investors to really think about not just how to invest in one specific country, but also how to have a global portfolio,” he said.
The Kraken executive pointed to tokenization and around-the-clock trading as key enablers. “We think it is going to be 24/7. We think it is going to be instant settlement,” he said, describing features that could differentiate tokenized assets from traditional brokerage products.
The discussion, moderated by Crypto in America host Eleanor Terrett, also addressed regulatory constraints in the United States. Kerbrat said “regulation in the U.S. has been less than friendly in the past,” though he noted recent engagement with policymakers has improved.
