Tokenized equities are gaining activity outside traditional US stock-market hours, highlighting one of blockchain-based finance’s main attractions: the ability to trade assets across time zones when Wall Street is closed. At the same time, Bitcoin miners are confronting expensive financing as they expand into artificial intelligence, while a proposed US accounting change could make qualifying stablecoins easier for companies to classify as cash equivalents. According to Cointelegraph, the developments form part of a broader shift in how digital assets interact with traditional markets.
Tokenized stocks extend the trading day
More than 70% of tokenized-stock trading volume on BNB Chain now takes place outside the regular US trading session, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. Data cited by Cointelegraph shows a similar pattern on other public blockchains: trading outside those hours accounts for 63% of activity on Solana and nearly 60% on Base.
Tokenized equities are digital representations of stocks issued and traded on a blockchain. Their availability outside standard exchange hours could allow investors in different time zones to access US-listed shares without waiting for the next Wall Street opening bell. That may also distribute market liquidity more evenly across the day, rather than concentrating activity in the traditional session.
The market is expanding as well as extending its hours. Jupiter reported a 50% month-over-month increase in tokenized-asset trading volume, while RWA.xyz data put the value of tokenized stocks at nearly $3.3 billion after a 15% rise over the previous 30 days.
US regulatory developments could further shape the sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s innovation exemption allows qualifying platforms to trade tokenized US-listed stocks on public blockchains, provided they meet disclosure and shareholder-protection requirements. However, some of the platforms already driving activity, including xStocks and Ondo Global Markets, remain largely unavailable to US investors. That restriction limits domestic participation even as tokenized shares attract more activity internationally.
Strive expands its Bitcoin treasury
Bitcoin treasury company Strive bought 3,311 Bitcoin during the week ended Oct. 9, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The company paid an average of about $84,500 per coin, increasing its total holdings to 32,773 BTC.
The purchases were funded partly by investors exercising warrants. Chief Executive Officer Matt Cole said the exercises generated $208 million, with approximately $15.3 million still outstanding before the warrants expired on Tuesday. Strive said the new purchases increased its Bitcoin exposure per share.
The company also amended its governing documents to set a binding $100 minimum issuance price for its SATA preferred shares. Those shares were trading at $99.40, while Strive’s common stock, ASST, was little changed at $27.52. Bitcoin was trading near $83,300 in the source report, below the average price Strive paid for its latest purchases.
AI expansion raises miners’ funding challenge
Bitcoin mining companies moving into artificial intelligence and high-performance computing must secure large amounts of capital for data centers, equipment and power infrastructure. The financing terms they receive can vary considerably depending on the customer supporting a project and the likelihood that construction will be completed.
BlocksBridge Consulting’s Miner Weekly highlighted the difference through recent financing deals by IREN. The company secured $3.65 billion in June at a blended interest rate of 6%, followed by $2.4 billion in August at a fixed 9% rate. The projects covered by the two agreements differ, making a direct comparison difficult, but the deals illustrate the scale and cost of funding required for AI infrastructure.
A June BlocksBridge analysis citing VanEck estimated that publicly traded Bitcoin miners collectively needed $50 billion to finance their AI ambitions. IREN’s estimated funding gap was $21.1 billion, followed by Riot Platforms at $7.2 billion and HIVE Digital Technologies at $4.6 billion. Winning AI customers is therefore only one part of miners’ transition; building the facilities and securing financing remain major hurdles.
Stablecoin accounting proposal could affect corporate treasuries
A proposed change from the Financial Accounting Standards Board could make qualifying stablecoins more useful to corporate treasury departments. Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to maintain a stable value, commonly through backing linked to assets such as US dollars.
Under current accounting practices, stablecoin holdings may not be included in a company’s reported cash reserves. That can affect liquidity ratios and loan covenants even when the tokens are fully backed by dollars. The FASB proposal would allow qualifying tokens to be treated as cash equivalents, but companies would need direct redemption rights with the stablecoin issuer. Buying USDC through a cryptocurrency exchange alone would not necessarily satisfy that condition.
Coinbase classified USDC and other payment stablecoins as cash equivalents in its 2025 annual report, supported by its redemption arrangement with Circle. The FASB proposal is open for public comment until Nov. 19. The board will review the responses before deciding on final rules and an effective date.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at 9:39 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2026, showed Bitcoin at $80,819.831550528, down 0.97% over 24 hours and 2.63% over seven days. STABLE was priced at $0.0254416083, down 3.15% in 24 hours and 6.45% over seven days.
Walrus stood at $0.0402595595, down 10.84% over 24 hours but up 10.76% over seven days. Ontology was at $0.0509126592, falling 3.02% over 24 hours and 19.19% over seven days.
