What TradFi on Crypto Exchanges Means
In 2025-2026, crypto exchanges began offering what used to be brokers-only: trading stocks, gold, silver, oil and ETFs — directly from a crypto account, in USDT, with no separate brokerage account. This is the TradFi (traditional finance) trend on crypto infrastructure. It comes in two forms: tokenized assets (real shares "wrapped" into a 1:1 token) and TradFi perpetuals (perpetual contracts on an asset's price).
The main advantage is 24/7 trading (unlike traditional exchanges with business hours), a low entry barrier, and access without brokers' geographic barriers. The main caveat — availability depends on jurisdiction and regulatory requirements.
Two Types: Tokenized Assets vs Perpetuals
| Type | What it is | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Tokenized stocks | A token backed 1:1 by a real share (via a regulated custodian). You own a claim on the share's value. | For those who want to "hold" the asset as an investment |
| TradFi perpetuals | A perpetual contract on a stock/commodity price with leverage. You do not own the asset — you trade price movement. | For traders who want leverage, in both directions |
Where to Find It: Exchanges With TradFi
- Bybit — xStocks (60+ tokenized stocks and ETFs: Apple, Tesla, NVIDIA, 1:1 backed) + TradFi Perpetuals on 20+ US stocks, gold, silver, oil and ETFs with up to 10x leverage, 24/7. Bybit review
- Bitget — RWA Index Perpetuals on stocks (Tesla, NVIDIA, Circle) + the Reality platform (rToken) + Pre-IPO contracts on companies before listing. Bitget review
- OKX — equity perpetuals (stock contracts settled in USDT) + deep Web3 integration. OKX review
Risks and What to Watch
- Regulatory availability. Tokenized assets and TradFi perpetuals are not available in all jurisdictions. Check availability in your region after registration.
- This is not the same as directly owning a share at a classic broker — no voting rights, and dividend mechanics depend on the platform.
- Leverage = higher risk. Leveraged TradFi perpetuals can be liquidated if the price moves against your position.
- Liquidity on tokenized assets is still lower than the spot crypto market — slippage is possible on large orders.
Where to Start
If you want to try it, start with an exchange that already has a developed TradFi offering. Bybit offers the widest selection (xStocks + stock/commodity perpetuals). Before trading, study the terms and check availability in your region. How to choose an exchange in general — in the selection guide.