Can you invest in Tesla without a stock account? How does Gate enable retail investors to invest in stocks with low barriers?

Have you ever been unable to invest in your favorite stocks (like Tesla or Apple) because of complicated account opening procedures, high deposit thresholds, or missed the stock market opening time after oversleeping?

As of 2026, there is a brand-new solution: stock tokens. This innovative asset class based on blockchain technology is revolutionizing how retail investors worldwide participate in stock markets. Leading exchange Gate, through its innovative xStocks section, allows both “crypto enthusiasts” and “traditional retail investors” to easily invest in stocks using USDT.

What are stock tokens? Not just a “crypto version” of stocks

Simply put, stock tokens are digital tokens that represent shares of publicly traded companies (like Apple or Tesla), mapped onto blockchain technology.

This is not an artificially created “air coin.” For example, in Gate’s compliant model, each stock token is backed by real shares held in custody by a licensed Swiss bank on a 1:1 basis. This means that when you buy a TSLAx (Tesla token), there is a corresponding share of Tesla stock held by a professional custodian behind it.

The biggest difference from traditional stocks lies in the medium and rules:

• Traditional stocks: stored in the central registry of securities firms, with trading limited to “market open/close” hours (T+1 or T+2 settlement).
• Stock tokens: exist on the blockchain (such as Ethereum or Solana), support 24/7 trading, and settlement is nearly instantaneous (seconds to settle).

Why are retail investors worldwide paying attention to “stock tokenization”?

By 2026, tokenized stocks are no longer a niche toy for tech geeks. According to on-chain data from early 2026, even during the Christmas holiday when stock markets are closed, nearly $1 billion worth of tokenized stocks (like Apple and Nvidia) were traded on the blockchain.

Behind this “hidden explosion” are low barriers to entry and high efficiency:

1. Breaking geographical barriers: no matter where you are, as long as you have internet and a crypto wallet, you can access the stock market without a traditional US broker account.
2. Fragmented investing: if you only have $50 but want to buy a $200 Google share, you can achieve “fractional” investment by purchasing GOOGLX on Gate’s xStocks, with a minimum of just $10.
3. 24/7 trading: no more staying up late waiting for market open. When major news breaks on weekends, you can react immediately on-chain, using the time difference to trade or hedge.

Gate xStocks: Making retail investors buy stocks as easily as buying crypto

As a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, Gate has keenly captured this trend and launched the xStocks section. This is not just a listing of new tokens; it’s a comprehensive innovation in traditional financial products.

1. Extremely low participation barriers

Opening a traditional brokerage account requires filling out complex forms like W-8BEN, waiting for approval, and dealing with currency exchange and deposits. With Gate, if you are already a crypto user, all you need is USDT to directly buy stock tokens. The process is as simple as buying Bitcoin.

2. Wide range of trading pairs

Gate’s xStocks currently offers over 60 tokenized stocks, covering tech giants and popular ETFs.

• Tech stocks: TSLAx (Tesla), AAPLx (Apple), NVDAx (Nvidia), GOOGLX (Google’s parent company Alphabet)
• Crypto-related stocks: MSTRx (MicroStrategy), COINx (Coinbase)

3. Spot and derivatives trading

Gate’s innovation lies in offering not only spot trading but also pioneering the xStocks derivatives market.

• Long-term holders: can buy directly in the spot market, holding real stocks.
• Trend traders: can use up to 10x leverage in the derivatives market to trade Tesla or Nvidia both ways (long or short), something difficult to do with traditional stock accounts.

4. From “trading” to “earning”

Holding stock tokens only to wait for appreciation? In Gate’s ecosystem, your assets can be more “active.” Some xStocks assets may in the future be used as collateral for DeFi or wealth management activities, enabling true “stock earning.” This composability of finance is something traditional brokers cannot offer.

How to buy your first stock token on Gate?

If you’re eager to try, just follow these four simple steps to start your on-chain stock investment journey:

1. Prepare funds: log into your Gate account and ensure your spot account has USDT (recharged via Tron or ERC-20 networks).
2. Enter the section: click on 【Trade】 in the top navigation bar and select 【xStocks Spot】.
3. Search for the asset: enter your desired trading pair, such as GOOGLX/USDT or TSLAx/USDT.
4. Place an order: input the amount you want to buy (supports fractional shares, with a minimum of $10), choose market or limit order, and confirm. You will then own these stock assets on-chain.

Important risks to note

While stock tokens offer great convenience, rational investors should understand the differences:

• Rights and interests: holding tokens usually does not grant voting rights like traditional shareholders, and dividends are reflected through token value adjustments rather than cash payouts.
• Underlying asset security: the value of tokens depends on the compliance and security of the issuer and custodian. Gate’s partners (such as Swiss compliant platform Backed Finance) use on-chain audits and licensed custody to reduce this risk.

Conclusion

As traditional financial giants like Goldman Sachs and Nasdaq embrace “tokenization,” and crypto-native platforms like Robinhood and Kraken continue expanding, an era of “one wallet, investing globally” is accelerating.

For retail investors, Gate’s xStocks acts as a bridge connecting the crypto world with top-tier real-world assets. It makes stock investing no longer a privilege for the few but a simple, inclusive financial experience akin to sending instant messages.

Register now on Gate, explore xStocks, and use USDT to start your global asset allocation journey.