Binance Research says crypto exchanges could become a major on-ramp to global stock markets, unlocking as much as $2 trillion in new capital and nearly 300 million new equity investors by 2031.
In a new report, the research arm argues that stablecoins and tokenized equities can strip away traditional frictions—high brokerage fees, limited foreign market access, slow settlement and banking barriers—that have kept many investors in underbanked and emerging markets from buying global stocks. Binance frames crypto exchanges as a convenient distribution layer for users who already hold digital assets but lack easy paths into major equity markets.
Key takeaways
- $2 trillion opportunity: Binance Research estimates exchanges could channel roughly $2 trillion of incremental equity capital into markets by 2031, bringing nearly 300 million new investors onboard.
- Bull case of $5 trillion: In a more aggressive scenario, crypto users could deliver up to $5 trillion in annual incremental equity capital over the next five years.
- Emerging markets lead adoption: About 93% of Binance’s current users trading stocks are from emerging markets—reflecting persistent barriers like high brokerage costs and banking friction.
- Cost savings via stablecoins: Settling stock trades in stablecoins could cut cross-border off-ramp costs by an average 3.6%, around $40 per transaction, the report estimates.
- Growing stablecoin use: TradFi-linked perpetuals already make up ~10% of stablecoin trading volume; direct stock trading and tokenized equities may expand that role as users seek 24/7 exposure within the same crypto accounts.
Binance Research highlights that onboarding could be seamless: crypto users settling in stablecoins would be able to trade around the clock, helping exchanges reach buyers who have historically been excluded from global markets. The report’s model factors in global crypto user counts, exchange coverage, eligibility and adoption rates, and assumed average position sizes.
This analysis dovetails with Binance’s broader push into traditional markets. The exchange recently announced plans to offer more than 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs to non-U.S. users with zero commissions and fractional purchases starting at $5. Binance is also developing “bStocks,” a tokenized equity product on BNB Chain that would let eligible users convert supported shares into on-chain assets with potential use cases in lending and liquidity markets.
The report sits amid a wider institutional tokenization trend: firms such as BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Ondo Finance, DTCC and Euroclear have expanded participation in the space. Tokenized equities crossed about $960 million by March 2026, while tokenized treasuries remain the largest category of real-world assets on-chain.
Binance Research cautions its figures are not investment advice and are not guaranteed forecasts. Broad adoption of tokenized stocks will depend on user eligibility, regulation, custody solutions, market depth and exchange support.
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