The convergence of blockchain innovation and traditional finance has given rise to one of the most promising narratives in Web3: Real-World Assets (RWA) tokenization. At the forefront of this movement is xStocks, a groundbreaking product launched by Swiss fintech firm Backed, now live on the Solana blockchain. This innovation enables users to trade tokenized U.S. equities—like Tesla (TSLAx)—around the clock on major platforms such as Bybit and Kraken, bypassing traditional market hours and unlocking new DeFi utility.
But how exactly does it work? And what makes xStocks different from conventional stock trading? Let’s dive deep into the mechanics, benefits, and future potential of tokenized stocks on-chain.
What Are xStocks? Bringing U.S. Stocks On-Chain
xStocks are blockchain-based tokens that represent ownership of real, off-chain U.S. stocks. Each token—such as TSLAx—is fully backed by an actual share of Tesla held in custody by regulated financial institutions, including Alpaca Securities (U.S.), InCore Bank, and Maerki Baumann (Switzerland). These custodial arrangements ensure compliance and asset backing, forming the foundation of trust in the system.
Built using Solana’s SPL token standard, xStocks leverage Chainlink oracles for real-time price feeds and implement proof-of-reserves mechanisms to verify collateralization. This means every TSLAx token reflects the real-world value of Tesla stock, updated continuously—even when U.S. markets are closed.
Users don’t directly own the underlying shares but gain exposure through a legally structured synthetic claim. The process works as follows:
- Backed purchases actual Tesla shares via partner brokers.
- These shares are securely held in regulated custodial accounts.
- An equivalent number of TSLAx tokens are minted on Solana.
- Tokens circulate freely across centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
This model allows global investors to access U.S. equities without needing a domestic brokerage account, while benefiting from blockchain’s speed, transparency, and interoperability.
Key Differences From Traditional Brokerage Platforms
While traditional brokers like Fidelity or Robinhood offer access to U.S. stocks during market hours, xStocks introduce several transformative advantages:
| Feature | Traditional Broker | xStocks on Solana |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Hours | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET (plus limited pre/post-market) | 24/7, 365 days a year |
| Asset Utility | Passive holding only | Can be used as DeFi collateral, for liquidity provision, or leveraged strategies |
| Settlement Time | T+2 settlement cycle | Near-instant settlement via blockchain |
| Shareholder Rights | Voting rights, dividends | No voting rights; dividends reflected in price or distributed proportionally |
Although xStocks holders do not receive voting rights or attend shareholder meetings, they still benefit economically. Dividend payouts from the underlying stock are factored into the token’s valuation or may be distributed directly to token holders in future updates.
This shift reframes stocks not just as long-term investments, but as programmable financial instruments embedded within dynamic DeFi ecosystems.
Supercharging DeFi: Use xStocks as Collateral and Yield Generators
One of the most powerful aspects of xStocks is their integration with Solana’s growing DeFi landscape. Unlike static holdings in a brokerage account, tokenized stocks can now participate in active yield strategies.
Raydium: Trade and Earn High-Yield Rewards
On Raydium, a leading Solana-based AMM, users can trade xStocks and provide liquidity to earn substantial returns—ranging from 11% to over 300% APY, depending on pool incentives.
However, current liquidity remains limited. For example, the largest TSLAx pool holds less than $1 million in total value locked (TVL), with only ~$4,500 in daily trading fees. This thin order book increases slippage risk for larger trades, posing a challenge for institutional-grade execution.
Still, early-stage growth signals strong potential. As more users adopt tokenized equities, deeper liquidity and tighter spreads are expected.
Kamino Finance: Borrow Against Your Stock Holdings
Kamino Finance aims to turn xStocks into versatile DeFi collateral. While direct lending against TSLAx isn’t yet live on its main interface, development is underway. Future plans include:
- Using xStocks as collateral to borrow stablecoins (e.g., USDC).
- Enabling leveraged long positions.
- Integrating with Kamino’s margin and yield-boosting strategies.
This would allow investors to maintain equity exposure while unlocking capital for other opportunities—without selling their assets.
Jupiter: Aggregated Access to Tokenized Stocks
As Solana’s premier DEX aggregator, Jupiter supports xStocks trading through its Pro interface. However, due to lower liquidity compared to Raydium, price impact can be higher—especially for large orders.
Despite these limitations, Jupiter’s aggregation logic ensures users get optimal routing across available pools, enhancing trade efficiency.
👉 See how you can unlock new financial strategies with next-gen asset tokenization.
24/7 Markets: How Are Prices Set When Wall Street Is Closed?
Traditional markets halt trading after hours, leaving investors unable to react instantly to breaking news. In contrast, xStocks enable continuous trading, even on weekends or U.S. public holidays.
So how is pricing handled when no official market data exists?
Here’s the mechanism:
- Chainlink oracles deliver the last official closing price as a reference point.
- During off-hours, traders set prices based on sentiment, news events, and macro trends.
- Orders execute peer-to-peer on DEXs, creating a de facto prediction market for the next open.
This dynamic allows xStocks to anticipate market movements before traditional exchanges resume. For instance, if Tesla announces unexpected layoffs late Sunday night, traders can immediately adjust positions—potentially gaining an edge over conventional investors.
It also opens up arbitrage opportunities between on-chain prices and Monday morning openers.
The Bigger Picture: Redefining Capital Markets With Programmable Equity
xStocks represent more than just a technical upgrade—they signal a fundamental shift in how capital markets operate.
By transforming stocks into composable digital assets, Backed enables:
- Global access to U.S. equities without geographic or regulatory barriers.
- Integration with DeFi protocols for lending, borrowing, and yield generation.
- Faster settlement and reduced counterparty risk.
- New investment strategies combining traditional assets with crypto-native tools.
This model paves the way for a truly borderless, always-on financial system, where assets flow seamlessly across ecosystems.
While challenges remain—such as improving liquidity depth and ensuring long-term protocol security—the success of xStocks demonstrates a viable path forward for RWA adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are xStocks legally compliant?
A: Yes. Backed operates under Swiss financial regulations and partners with licensed custodians and broker-dealers in both the U.S. and EU to ensure compliance with securities laws.
Q: Can I receive dividends from holding TSLAx?
A: While you don’t receive dividends directly in cash, the economic value of dividends is reflected in the token price or may be distributed proportionally to holders in future updates.
Q: Is my investment safe if the custodian fails?
A: Custodial risk is mitigated through audits, insurance policies, and regular proof-of-reserves checks. However, like all investments, there are inherent risks—including smart contract vulnerabilities and market volatility.
Q: Can I transfer xStocks between wallets?
A: Yes. As SPL tokens on Solana, xStocks can be freely transferred between non-custodial wallets like Phantom or Backpack.
Q: Does trading xStocks require KYC?
A: It depends on the platform. Centralized exchanges like Kraken require KYC; DEXs like Raydium or Jupiter do not.
Q: What prevents someone from minting fake xStocks?
A: Minting is permissioned and tightly controlled by Backed. Only after verified purchase of real shares are new tokens issued, with full transparency via on-chain reserves verification.
Final Thoughts: The Future Is Tokenized
With xStocks, Backed has created a compelling blueprint for merging traditional equity markets with decentralized finance. Powered by Solana’s high-speed infrastructure and integrated across key DeFi protocols, tokenized stocks are no longer theoretical—they’re tradable, usable, and accessible 24/7.
As adoption grows and liquidity improves, we may soon see tokenized versions of ETFs, bonds, and even private equity entering the chain-native economy.
👉 Be part of the financial revolution—learn how tokenized assets are reshaping investing forever.
Core Keywords:
tokenized stocks, Real-World Assets (RWA), Solana DeFi, xStocks, Backed, stock tokenization, DeFi lending, 24/7 trading
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency investments are subject to high market risk. Prices can fluctuate significantly, and you may lose your entire principal. Please conduct thorough research and assess your risk tolerance before investing.