The new decentralized exchange will offer tokenized assets and perpetual futures, targeting retail traders shut out of traditional markets.
Robinhood has teamed up with dYdX Labs to launch Arcus, a decentralized exchange (DEX) focused on perpetual futures and tokenized assets. The platform aims to provide retail traders access to US equities, commodities, and pre-IPO markets, addressing barriers like geographic restrictions and institutional access limits. Arcus will allow tokenized stocks to serve as collateral for perpetuals, with trading set to begin this month.
The move follows surging demand for crypto perpetual futures, a segment where platforms like Hyperliquid have gained traction. Hyperliquid’s token has surged nearly 150% year-to-date as it captures market share. Robinhood’s expansion into tokenized assets aligns with regulatory shifts in the US, where authorities are increasingly open to such products. The dYdX Foundation clarified that Arcus operates independently of its blockchain, which remains community-owned.
Robinhood Crypto, the company’s crypto arm, has invested in Arcus, though financial details were not disclosed. The launch reflects broader competition among retail-focused trading platforms, with Coinbase and others also expanding their crypto offerings to retain users.