Demand for U.S. stocks, particularly AI-related ones, is growing among overseas investors, according to Robinhood's senior vice president Johann Kerbrat. He highlighted tokenization, 24/7 trading, and regulatory changes as key drivers expanding access beyond domestic markets. Kerbrat spoke at Consensus 2026 in Miami.
Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood's senior vice president and general manager in charge of crypto, stated during a fireside chat at Consensus 2026 in Miami that global demand for U.S. equities is increasing, especially for AI-related companies. “We are seeing a lot of demand for U.S. stocks from overseas investors, particularly tied to AI-related companies,” Kerbrat said. He noted that access remains more limited outside the United States compared to domestic markets. The discussion was moderated by Crypto in America host Eleanor Terrett. Kerbrat urged investors to move from country-specific strategies to global portfolios, enabled by international 24/7 trading platforms. “It is time for a lot of investors to really think about not just how to invest in one specific country, but also how to have a global portfolio,” he said. He pointed to tokenization and instant settlement as differentiators for tokenized assets over traditional brokerage products, predicting “it is going to be 24/7” and “instant settlement.” Robinhood has launched tokenized stock products in Europe using a derivative model that tracks underlying assets. The company plans to expand to private equity and other assets traditionally restricted to accredited investors. “I think it is really important to give them the choice to be able to invest in it before it goes public,” Kerbrat said of private companies. He described past U.S. regulation as “less than friendly,” but noted recent improvements through policymaker engagement. Robinhood aims to offer new features like lending, collateralization, and continuous trading to drive adoption.
