Robinhood’s Tokenized Stocks Face EU Scrutiny as OpenAI Distances Itself: Report

Robinhood’s attempt to tokenize equity in high-profile firms like OpenAI and SpaceX has come under scrutiny in the European Union, following a sharp warning from OpenAI and a regulatory inquiry from Lithuania’s central bank. The move now places the brokerage’s new product under legal and reputational pressure less than a week after launch.

According to CNBC, the Bank of Lithuania confirmed on Monday that it had contacted Robinhood seeking “clarifications” over the structure of its newly launched OpenAI and SpaceX stock tokens.

OpenAI Rejects Links to Robinhood’s Token Product

Robinhood launched the blockchain-based stock token product on June 30, allowing EU users to invest in shares of both public and private companies. However, shortly after the announcement, OpenAI issued a statement distancing itself from the product and warning that the tokens do not represent equity in the company.

Robinhood stock tokens face scrutiny in the European Union after OpenAI warning https://t.co/Ml8joslub2

— CNBC (@CNBC) July 7, 2025

In response to OpenAI’s remarks, Robinhood stated that its tokenized offering provides retail investors with indirect exposure to private markets and is backed by the company’s ownership stake through a special purpose vehicle.

Robinhood holds both a brokerage and crypto asset service provider license in the EU, granted by the Bank of Lithuania, making the country its lead regulatory authority in the bloc.

These “OpenAI tokens” are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it. Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval—we did not approve any transfer.

Please be careful.

— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) July 2, 2025

The case could serve as an early test of how European regulators respond to the growing trend of asset tokenization, particularly when tied to private companies that have not consented to the use of their names or equity in such products.

Regulatory Oversight Tightens as Tokenization Expands

As scrutiny builds, the future of Robinhood’s stock token strategy and broader investor trust in tokenized shares could hinge on how the company navigates its obligations Obligations In finance, an obligation is a financial responsibility where the terms of a contract must be met. Should an obligation between parties fail then the party who is at default may face legal action. In this scenario, the guilty party will not only have to agree to pay the set amount to fulfill the contractual arrangement but may also be responsible for covering all legal proceedings cost. Routine payments or outstanding debt of any kind are considered financial obligations, so if someone owes you In finance, an obligation is a financial responsibility where the terms of a contract must be met. Should an obligation between parties fail then the party who is at default may face legal action. In this scenario, the guilty party will not only have to agree to pay the set amount to fulfill the contractual arrangement but may also be responsible for covering all legal proceedings cost. Routine payments or outstanding debt of any kind are considered financial obligations, so if someone owes you Read this Term to regulators and the companies it claims to offer exposure.

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Last week, Robinhood announced its plans to offer tokenized stocks in Europe. The commission-free broker joined two mega crypto exchanges, Kraken, Gemini and Bybit, who also announced their entry into the space around the same time.

Related: Tokenized Stocks Mania: Two Mega Crypto Exchanges Enter the Space Nearly 2 Hours Apart