OpenAI Disavows Robinhoods Tokenized Shares as Fabrication

The AI startup OpenAI has dismissed the claims regarding the launch of tokenized shares of the company that were put forward by Robinhood.

«These ‘OpenAI tokens’ do not represent a stake in our company. We have not collaborated with Robinhood, nor do we have any association with this matter, and we do not support it. Any transfer of shares in OpenAI requires our approval — we have not approved any such transfers,» stated the announcement.

Robinhood explained that this new product offers retail investors «indirect access to private markets,» facilitated through the online broker’s stake in a special purpose vehicle (SPV).

Amit Kukreja, an expert in stocks and startups, noted that OpenAI issued the statement «as a precaution» — they were obliged to do so.

«What Robinhood has done is issue a token that tracks OpenAI’s valuation in private markets. This is akin to what they do with tokens for over 200 other public companies. You’re not literally buying shares — the papers themselves are just certificates. What matters is the digital representation of these assets. In the future, thousands of decentralized exchanges will allow you to buy OpenAI, regardless of whether it’s private or public. This will enhance liquidity, narrow the spread between buying and selling prices, and enable people to trade this globally. Robinhood is simply one of the first companies to take this step,» he elaborated.

At the end of June, Robinhood announced the development of its own blockchain network based on Arbitrum and the launch of trading in tokenized stocks.

The company has launched tokens for OpenAI, Robinhood Markets, Trump Media & Technology Group, Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, and YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy on the L2 network.

CEO Vlad Tenev confirmed that the technically offered tokens are not «equity» but effectively provide retail investors access to private assets. He characterized the initiative as «an early step toward something much larger.»

Recall that in February, Tenev referred to cryptocurrency as the «future» and discussed four areas in which the online broker aims to accelerate its industry offerings.