Sam Altman's OpenAI Denies Partnership with Robinhood on Stock Tokens

OpenAI has made it clear that it did not partner with Robinhood regarding the tokenized shares of private companies like OpenAI and SpaceX. The AI company issued a statement on Wednesday distancing itself from Robinhood’s launch of tokenized equity products. OpenAI emphasized that the tokens being offered are not linked to actual company equity and that any transfer of OpenAI equity requires its approval.

The statement was a direct response to Robinhood’s announcement earlier this week, which had suggested that European users could gain indirect exposure to OpenAI and other companies via tokenized shares.

OpenAI Responds to Robinhood’s Tokenized Equity Launch

Robinhood unveiled its new product in Cannes on Monday, showcasing over 200 tokenized equities, including stocks of private companies like OpenAI and SpaceX. This move marks Robinhood’s entry into the blockchain-based investment space, offering European Union users the opportunity to invest in tokenized versions of these companies’ shares. However, OpenAI quickly clarified that it was not involved in the creation or promotion of these tokens. The company took to social media platform X to state,

“These ‘OpenAI tokens’ are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it.”

In its statement, OpenAI also warned investors to be cautious, reiterating that the transfer of equity in the company requires explicit approval from OpenAI, which was not granted in this instance. The denial by OpenAI comes amid growing concerns about the legality and transparency of tokenized equity offerings, especially in the case of privately held companies.

Robinhood’s New Tokenized Product for European Investors

Robinhood’s new product aims to provide retail investors with access to tokenized versions of stocks from both public and private companies. These tokenized assets allow investors to trade fractions of stocks, giving them exposure to markets that were previously out of reach. Robinhood’s spokesperson explained that the platform’s tokenized equity offering was made possible through the company’s ownership stake in a special purpose vehicle, which holds the actual shares.

This approach allows Robinhood to track the price of the underlying equities on the blockchain while enabling users to trade them as tokens. The launch of these tokenized assets aligns with Robinhood’s broader goal of expanding access to financial products.

The company’s announcement, which coincided with its other new offerings, such as staking and crypto trading, was met with enthusiasm in the market. Robinhood’s stock surged to an all-time high following the news. Despite this, the controversy surrounding OpenAI’s denial has raised questions about the legitimacy of Robinhood’s tokenized equities and the potential legal challenges associated with them.

Regulatory and Legal Concerns Surround Tokenized Equities

The introduction of tokenized equities has attracted attention from regulators, particularly in the United States. Tokenized stocks are essentially digital assets that represent shares of publicly or privately held companies. These assets are not the actual shares but are designed to track their value on the blockchain. While they offer investors a way to gain exposure to assets without directly owning the stock, they also raise questions about shareholder rights and regulatory oversight.

OpenAI’s quick denial of any involvement in Robinhood’s tokenized shares reflects concerns that such products may be seen as unauthorized representations of private company equity. In the United States, companies like OpenAI often have a “right of first refusal,” which allows them to prevent shares from being sold to outside parties. Without approval from the company, the creation and sale of tokenized shares could run afoul of these legal provisions.

Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has signaled its openness to exploring tokenization, with SEC Chair Paul Atkins recently describing it as an “innovation” capable of changing the financial landscape. He also affirmed that the SEC is working towards providing regulatory clarity on the tokenization of real-world assets.

However, concerns have also been raised by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), which has urged the SEC to reject tokenized equity products that do not go through a transparent, public process.