Robinhood Chain, the new Ethereum Layer-2 network built on Arbitrum technology, has processed over four million transactions within its first week of public testnet availability, signaling robust initial developer interest in its tokenized finance platform. The testnet launched on February 11, 2026, and the rapid transaction volume highlights the platform's potential as a hub for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and on-chain financial services.
Developers are actively building and testing applications on the network, exploring use cases such as tokenized stocks and experimental financial tools. The chain leverages Arbitrum's Layer-2 scaling solution to enhance transaction throughput and significantly lower costs, targeting financial-grade applications that require efficiency and scalability. Robinhood Chain CEO Vlad Tenev emphasized the activity, stating, "Developers are already building on our L2, designed for tokenized real world assets and onchain financial services. The next chapter of finance runs onchain."
The launch comes against the backdrop of Robinhood's broader financial performance, which saw a 38% year-over-year decline in crypto-related revenues in Q4 2025, even as the company reported total revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter. The blockchain initiative is viewed as a strategic move to expand the company's digital asset services and counter slowing growth in its core crypto trading business.
Market reaction to the testnet milestone has been mixed. While the high transaction count demonstrates curiosity and a strong sandbox for experimentation, some critics question the necessity of a new network, pointing to potential fragmentation of liquidity and developer attention away from Ethereum's established infrastructure. Observers also note that a portion of the early activity may be bot-driven, and the true test will be user retention and mainnet performance.
Looking ahead, Robinhood Chain aims to bridge traditional finance and decentralized assets by providing a developer-friendly environment with familiar Ethereum tooling, allowing for easy migration of existing applications. The network's focus remains on creating an efficient platform for tokenized financial services, with plans to scale for higher volumes and eventual mainnet deployment.
