Robinhood Chain has taken a step toward broader interoperability. The Ethereum layer-2 network now allows users to swap Ethereum-native tokens and the USDG stablecoin across more than 180 assets and over 30 chains, following an integration with NEAR Intents.

What changed

On September 18, 2026, Robinhood Chain added support for NEAR Intents through the 1Click Swap API. The integration enables intent-based cross-chain swaps that connect assets on Robinhood Chain with other networks.

In crypto terms, an intent lets a user specify the outcome they want—for example, exchanging one token for another on a different chain—without manually stitching together each hop along the way. That execution model has become a common pattern in cross-chain infrastructure, replacing the older routine of moving assets through a bridge first and trading on the destination network afterward.

Interoperability has long been a friction point for newer layer-2s, whose native assets otherwise need separate bridging steps to reach the wider market. The practical effect here is that two categories of assets become far more mobile: Ethereum-native tokens and USDG can now reach a catalog of more than 180 assets spanning over 30 chains.

How Robinhood Chain got here

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

The chain launched without a native network token. Rather than introducing a speculative coin, Robinhood tied user exposure directly back to Robinhood Markets (HOOD) equity.

That design choice reflects the network's priorities: tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) services rather than a token of its own. Plugging into an external cross-chain network rather than building its own bridge or token is consistent with that positioning.

At launch, Robinhood introduced tokenized Stock Tokens, which give users outside the US access to instruments that track equities. The chain also leaned into DeFi from day one, with activity that included meme coins and collaborations involving protocols such as Uniswap and Chainlink.

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

The numbers behind the traction

The chain has recorded meaningful activity since going live. Daily decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes have surpassed $1 billion, total value locked (TVL) has been approaching $1 billion, and stablecoin supply on the network has at times exceeded $900 million. Stablecoin supply is a closely watched gauge in DeFi, since it reflects how much dollar-pegged liquidity is actually sitting on a network and available to trade.

The growth followed a recognizable arc: early meme coin activity drove initial usage, while later growth came from RWAs and perpetual contracts. The broader strategy traces back to 2025, when Robinhood announced a push to create a hybrid market experience that blends traditional finance with blockchain rails.

What it means for traders and Robinhood

For users, the immediate benefit is optionality. Someone holding USDG or an Ethereum-native token on Robinhood Chain can now access a much wider set of assets without leaving the ecosystem through a traditional bridge. As announced, the outbound scope covers Ethereum-native tokens and USDG; any extension to the chain's other assets, such as its tokenized Stock Tokens, has not been announced.

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