Robinhood CEO challenges issuer veto over tokenized stocks

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said companies should not automatically have the power to block tokenized stock products. In comments reported by Cointelegraph, Tenev distinguished between products that alter shareholder rights or create obligations for the issuing company and instruments designed as separate products backed by shares. He said issuers should be involved in the first case because those structures could affect the company or its shareholders. However, he argued that issuer approval should not be required when a tokenized product does not change shareholder rights or impose new obligations, but instead represents a separate instrument linked to underlying shares. The remarks add to the debate over how traditional equities can be represented through blockchain-based products and what role companies should play in approving such offerings.