Binance Expands into Traditional Finance with Access to 8,000 US Stocks

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has taken another step towards its vision of becoming a multi-asset financial super app. The platform has opened access to over 8,000 US stocks and exchange-traded funds for its non-US customers.

The move is significant as it allows users to buy fractional shares starting at $5 with zero commission using stablecoins or Binance's own token. This will make it easier for overseas investors to access the global equity market without incurring high costs and friction.

Binance is not alone in this shift, as other crypto exchanges such as OKX and Coinbase are also expanding into traditional finance. Asset manager BlackRock has even issued Treasury bills as blockchain wrappers, blurring the line between traditional and crypto markets.

The platform's stock trading service will be arranged by a broker-dealer called Nest Trading, while custody, dividend payments, and corporate actions will be handled by Alpaca. Users can pay using USDC or USDT stablecoins, as well as Binance's own BNB token.