On October 16, 2025, Robinhood US officially expanded its cryptocurrency trading offerings by listing three new tokens: Aster (ASTER), Plasma (XPL), and Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL). This strategic move aims to diversify Robinhood's digital asset portfolio and cater to growing retail demand, particularly from emerging crypto communities.
ASTER, a Binance-backed token, has gained significant traction since its launch in September, rallying to a peak market capitalization of $3.9 billion in under 30 days. As a BNB Chain-native protocol, it serves as a liquidity optimization layer connecting BNB Chain and opBNB to cross-chain DeFi markets. Binance co-founder Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao publicly endorsed ASTER, emphasizing its unique design, including support for multiple chains and hidden orders, which differentiates it from other perpetual decentralized exchanges.
Plasma (XPL), launched by Tether, has emerged as a leader in the Real-World Asset (RWA) sector, attracting $6 billion in total value locked by October 9. Built to tokenize US Treasuries and other securities backing Tether's $180 billion supply, XPL enables on-chain settlement and yield distribution for institutional investors. It represents a Layer 1 blockchain secured by Bitcoin, focusing on stablecoin innovations.
Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) powers an AI-agent infrastructure network that allows developers to deploy autonomous digital agents for executing smart contracts and managing DeFi portfolios. This listing aligns with Robinhood's efforts to tap into trends in AI and decentralized finance.
Despite the bullish listings, overall market sentiment remains cautious. Crypto trading volumes fell 22% week-on-week, and Bitcoin's drop below $109,000 has weighed on altcoin momentum. Robinhood's stock slipped 1.9% to $131.5 per share, extending a five-day loss of 12%, correlating with broader market fragility following a record $19 billion liquidation event. The listings have already influenced token prices, with ASTER surging to $1.36 and XPL briefly exceeding $0.5 before retracing amid volatility.
