Robinhood Chain integrated NEAR Intents on September 18, 2026, enabling users to swap Ethereum-native tokens and the USDG stablecoin across more than 180 assets on over 30 chains without conventional bridging.

The integration uses NEAR's 1Click Swap API and introduces intent-based cross-chain swaps that link assets on Robinhood Chain with other networks. In an intent-based model, a user specifies the desired outcome — such as swapping one token for another on a different chain — and the system handles the intermediate hops rather than requiring the user to stitch them together manually.

What does the integration change operationally?

Two asset classes become materially more mobile. Ethereum-native tokens and USDG can now move across a catalog spanning more than 180 assets and over 30 chains, removing the need for users to exit the Robinhood ecosystem through a traditional bridge.

For traders, the immediate benefit is optionality. A holder of USDG or an Ethereum-native token on Robinhood Chain can reach a wider set of assets while staying within the network's own infrastructure.

How did Robinhood Chain get here?

Robinhood Chain is a permissionless Ethereum layer-2 built on the Arbitrum Orbit stack. Its testnet went live on February 10, 2026, and mainnet followed on July 1, 2026, with 100 millisecond block times.

The chain launched without a native token. Instead of a speculative coin, user exposure ties directly back to Robinhood Markets (HOOD) equity. That design choice reflects the network's stated priorities: tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and decentralized finance services rather than a token launch.

At launch, Robinhood introduced tokenized Stock Tokens, giving users outside the US access to instruments that track equities. The chain also built DeFi activity from the start, including meme coin trading and collaborations with protocols such as Uniswap and Chainlink.

On October 1, 2026, Robinhood Wallet added an Arcus RFQ integration for stock token swaps covering approximately 190 Stock Tokens.

What do the on-chain numbers show?

The chain has posted substantial activity since mainnet:

• Daily decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes have surpassed $1 billion.
• Total value locked (TVL) has been approaching $1 billion.
• Stablecoin supply on the network has at times exceeded $900 million.

The growth followed a recognizable arc. Early meme coin activity drove initial usage, and later growth came from RWAs and perpetual contracts.

What does this mean for Robinhood's broader strategy?

The push traces back to 2025, when Robinhood announced plans for a hybrid market experience blending traditional finance with blockchain rails. The NEAR Intents integration extends that strategy by making the chain a more practical hub for cross-chain liquidity rather than an isolated environment dependent on bridging.

Because there is no native chain token, the main public-market expression of the chain's performance is Robinhood Markets (HOOD) equity. Strong on-chain metrics, such as DEX volume above $1 billion daily, could shape how investors view HOOD — though that link is indirect, and the chain remains one piece of a much larger business.

The integration also positions Robinhood Chain to compete on interoperability as intent-based swapping becomes a baseline expectation for new layer-2 networks. With Stock Token coverage near 190 instruments and cross-chain reach now spanning 30-plus chains, the network enters its first full year of mainnet operation with infrastructure aimed at both retail swap volume and tokenized-asset distribution.