Crypto firms expand with $11,000 stock offerings amid growing synergy

Cryptocurrency firms are increasingly entering traditional finance territory by offering conventional investment products, reflecting a growing connection between crypto and Wall Street.

Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, described this trend as a “growing synergy” between traditional financial investments and the emerging crypto space.

“Crypto players are now checking out traditional finance as they see the opportunity to bridge it,” Chen said.

She added that investors seek flexibility, and products combining both crypto and traditional finance are becoming more attractive.

“In a volatile market, integration is smarter than isolation,” Chen said, noting that some firms view traditional finance as a safety net, while others see it as a launchpad for broader adoption.

This development follows Kraken’s recent launch of access to 11,000 US-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), marking the beginning of its expansion into traditional finance offerings globally.

Kraken’s move came shortly after the S&P 500 experienced a record-breaking two-day loss exceeding $5 trillion, triggered by tariff announcements earlier in April.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expressed a related vision during the company’s latest earnings call, stating that Coinbase aims to modernise the global financial system and integrate more of the world’s GDP onto crypto rails.

“We think that’s a more efficient, fair, free world that will accelerate progress, and it creates economic freedom,” Armstrong said.

A Coinbase spokesperson described the relationship between digital assets and traditional assets as “inherently symbiotic” and emphasised the company’s mission to onboard one billion users to crypto by supporting integration with traditional finance.

Omri Hanover, general manager at Gems Trade, highlighted the “inevitable convergence” of blockchain technology’s speed and transparency with traditional finance’s trust, scale, and compliance.

He noted this convergence unlocks new opportunities for retail and institutional investors seeking digital asset exposure without navigating complex crypto products.

Traditional investment platforms such as eToro and Robinhood have also introduced cryptocurrency offerings, further illustrating the blending of crypto and traditional finance markets.