NAIROBI, Kenya — September 27, 2025 (EAT).

Kenyans are increasingly gaining access to U.S. equities through tokenised financial products on crypto and Web3 platforms, circumventing traditional brokerage barriers and exposing local investors to global markets.

What’s Changing

• Bitget, a global crypto & Web3 exchange, has launched Real-World Assets (RWA) trading in Kenya, enabling users to purchase tokenised versions of U.S. stocks and ETFs—such as Apple, Tesla, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, and S&P 500 funds—directly from their crypto apps. 

• Users can fund these purchases in Kenyan shillings via M-Pesa or with stablecoins like USDT, lowering the barrier to entry. 

• The platform allows small entry amounts (e.g. as low as KSh 500) to participate in fractional ownership of global stocks.

Why This Matters

• Democratizing access: Many Kenyans previously could only invest in U.S. markets via offshore brokers, high minimums, or cumbersome regulatory processes. Tokenised platforms simplify this.

• Bridging crypto and equities: Investors can now manage stock and crypto portfolios through the same app and infrastructure, blending traditional and decentralized finance.

• Regulatory attention rising: Globally, exchanges and regulators are scrutinizing tokenised equity products for investor protection, rights, and clarity of ownership. 

Risks & Considerations

• Tokenised stocks often do not grant full shareholder rights, such as voting or dividends in the traditional sense—they may be synthetic or derivative exposures.

• Regulatory ambiguity in Kenya and abroad may lead to classification, custody, taxation, and legal challenges.

• Market volatility and platform risk (e.g. smart contract bugs, liquidity constraints) remain significant.

• The World Federation of Exchanges has cautioned that tokenised equity products, if marketed as equivalents to traditional shares, could undermine investor protection unless regulated properly.