Major U.S. exchanges are developing plans to offer digital tokens that mirror traditional stocks and trade around the clock. Wall Street firms are racing to transform conventional assets using blockchain technology that powers bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. While these tokenized stocks haven't yet reached American markets, traders throughout Europe and Asia are already buying and selling them.

Crypto advocates argue tokenized stocks could revolutionize investing by enabling 24/7 trading and allowing investors to purchase fractions of expensive shares. This fractional ownership could democratize access to high-priced stocks that might otherwise be out of reach for many investors. The technology promises to eliminate traditional market hours and geographic boundaries.

Skeptics counter that round-the-clock trading may create more problems than it solves. Low-volume periods during off-hours can make transactions less efficient and more costly. Many question whether investors truly need to trade on weekends or in the middle of weeknights when markets are typically closed. The debate highlights tensions between innovation and practical market functionality.