Robinhood Launches Ethereum Layer 2 Blockchain Testnet For Onchain Finance

TLDR

Table of Contents

Robinhood Chain is powered by Offchain Labs’ Arbitrum rollup technology.
The chain supports tokenized assets like equities, ETFs, and private holdings.
Infrastructure partners like Chainlink and Alchemy are already integrating.
Robinhood aims to support 24/7 trading and onchain self-custody on mainnet.

Robinhood has launched the public testnet for Robinhood Chain, its new Ethereum layer 2 blockchain. The move supports the company’s aim to bring traditional financial assets like equities and ETFs onchain. Powered by Arbitrum’s optimistic rollup technology, the network is designed to allow developers to build decentralized applications and support 24/7 trading.

Public Testnet Launch for Robinhood Chain

Robinhood has announced the launch of the public testnet for its new Ethereum layer 2 blockchain called Robinhood Chain. The network is built using technology developed by Offchain Labs, the creators of Arbitrum, one of the most used optimistic rollup scaling solutions on Ethereum.

The Robinhood Chain public testnet is live 🛠️
Developers can now build on a financial-grade Ethereum Layer 2 built on @arbitrum— designed to support tokenized real-world and digital assets.
Start building with the core foundation of Robinhood Chain: https://t.co/yHCQRh5x3j…
— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) February 11, 2026

The testnet provides developers with access to network endpoints, full documentation, and compatibility with Ethereum tools. This allows builders to deploy smart contracts and begin testing decentralized applications ahead of the mainnet launch planned for later in 2026.

Focus on Real-World and Tokenized Financial Assets

Robinhood Chain is designed to bring traditional financial instruments such as equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and private assets to the blockchain. These assets can be traded and self-custodied by users in a decentralized way.

“Robinhood Chain is optimized for tokenized RWAs,” said Johann Kerbrat, head of Robinhood’s global crypto strategy. He added that the network supports developers building applications that connect real-world financial services to decentralized finance (DeFi).

Built on Arbitrum and Supported by Infrastructure Providers

The blockchain is based on Arbitrum’s rollup technology, which allows Ethereum transactions to be processed faster and at lower cost. Offchain Labs co-founder and CEO Steven Goldfeder commented, “Robinhood Chain delivers the next chapter of tokenization and permissionless financial services.”

Several major infrastructure providers have already started integrating with the network. These include Alchemy, Chainlink, Allium, LayerZero, and TRM. Their early involvement is expected to support a smooth transition to mainnet later this year.

Open Developer Access and Global Expansion Plans

Robinhood states that the testnet is open to all developers. The network aims to be user-friendly and supports deployment of smart contracts without the need for permissions. This will allow a wide range of applications to be built on the platform.

The company has been expanding its crypto offerings globally. In late 2025, Robinhood introduced over 200 tokenized U.S. equities to users in Europe. These offerings are expected to eventually move to Robinhood Chain once the mainnet is live.

Aiming for 24/7 Trading and Self-Custody

Robinhood plans to use its blockchain to enable round-the-clock trading of tokenized assets. Users will also be able to self-custody their holdings without relying on third parties or traditional brokerages.

“We look forward to building alongside our infrastructure partners as we work to bring financial services onchain,” said Kerbrat. The blockchain aims to eliminate platform lock-in and increase access to financial markets for users worldwide.

The mainnet is expected to go live later this year, following testing and feedback from developers during the public testnet phase.