Vlad Tenev on Robinhood’s Bold Move into Crypto, DeFi, and Ethereum L2s

In this episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, to explore how Robinhood is bringing tokenized U.S. stocks to the EU, launching an Ethereum L2 with Arbitrum tech, and shaping the future of finance. From tokenized private shares to the long-term vision of blockchain adoption, Vlad shares insights on regulation, innovation, and the battle between Robinhood and Coinbase. Is crypto the backbone of global finance? Tune in to find out!

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: How do you get people in the U.S. excited about stocks onchain?

00:52 Introduction to Vlad Tenev, Co-Founder and CEO of Robinhood

01:30 Tokenized U.S. stocks, private company stocks, Robin Hood blockchain, USDG, and other announcements

02:35 Robinhood offers tokenized U.S. stocks to customers in the EU

06:52 Primary market for private companies’ tokenized shares

13:55 Robinhood launches Ethereum L2 using Arbitrum tech

18:45 Will Robinhood launch a token?

20:00 What regulation will need to happen in the U.S. to launch these products here?

24:47 How do these crypto announcements fit into the long term vision of RH?

28:43 RH chain as an enabler for this vision of global adoption

30:45 Will crypto remain a niche asset class or become the backbone of finance?

35:10 Robinhood vs. Coinbase

37:10 The DeFi Mullet: UX and DeFi on Robinhood

41:55 What makes Vlad a believer in crypto innovation?

46:10 Closing remarks