Telegram plans to integrate xStocks into its Wallet so users can buy and sell tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs directly inside the chat app. The service launches in October 2025 with zero trading fees through the end of the year, with Kraken or Backed supplying the product under a 1:1 reserve model in which each token equals one share held in custody.
xStocks will offer tokenized exposure to U.S. equities and ETFs within Telegram’s Wallet, enabling trading without leaving the messaging interface and targeting accessibility for users worldwide.
The rollout starts in October 2025 and waives trading fees until December 2025, positioning the service for rapid early adoption before standard pricing resumes.
Key advantages of Wallet in Telegram
Each token equals one share held in reserve (1:1), and a tokenized stock is a blockchain record that tracks a traditional share while allowing fractional ownership and day-and-night trading.
The first batch covers 35 names including Circle (CRCLX), Coinbase (COINX), Robinhood (HOODX) and TON Strategy (TONx), with the list set to grow past 60 assets before 2026.
Bitcoin ETFs are excluded at launch, while Bitcoin itself remains available in Wallet as ordinary crypto trading.
Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Kraken, said the move aims to “meet people where they already are”, underscoring the intent to embed securities access in existing user workflows.
Placing securities inside a messaging app removes steps for users in regions where banks are scarce, potentially widening participation by reducing friction in account setup and execution. Round-the-clock trading can brighten the quote of normally slow securities, yet real market depth will hinge on follow-up buyers and the robustness of secure custody arrangements.
The 1:1 reserve rule limits counterparty loss, but investors still need to verify storage and redemption terms to ensure tokens can be reliably converted back to the underlying shares. xStocks files under a prospectus that claims compliance, and every new jurisdiction will test the paperwork as the service expands its asset list and geographic reach.
The next checkpoint is the October release and the promised asset expansion, with observers watching whether reserves match tokens, how withdrawals function, and how regulators respond.
