Key Takeaways
- •Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev states that US crypto regulation is hindering features like staking for American users.
- •Robinhood supports Congress's crypto market structure bill but acknowledges that further work is necessary.
- •Tenev believes artificial intelligence will primarily drive job creation and innovation, rather than widespread unemployment.
Call for Clearer Crypto Regulations
Robinhood Markets CEO Vlad Tenev has implored US lawmakers to take a leading role in establishing clear cryptocurrency regulations. He expressed concern that the current state of regulatory uncertainty is stifling innovation and limiting access to certain features for American users.
In a post on X on January 15, Tenev highlighted that staking remains one of the most frequently requested features on Robinhood. However, it is still unavailable to customers in four US states due to ongoing regulatory challenges.
Staking is one of the most requested features on @RobinhoodApp, but it’s still unavailable to customers in four U.S. states due to the current gridlock. Stock Tokens are available to our customers in the EU, but not in our home market.
It’s time for the US to lead on crypto…
— Vlad Tenev (@vladtenev) January 15, 2026
He further noted, "Stock tokens are live for our customers in the EU, but not in our home market," pointing to what he described as policy paralysis in the United States.
According to Robinhood's official website, crypto staking is presently not available in California, Maryland, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.
Robinhood Backs Market Structure Bill, Seeks Further Refinement
Tenev advocated for the passage of clear and balanced cryptocurrency legislation that would both safeguard consumers and foster innovation. Robinhood has expressed its support for ongoing efforts in Congress to pass a long-awaited crypto market structure bill.
"We support Congress’s efforts to pass the market structure bill,"
he stated, while also emphasizing that significant work is still required. He added that Robinhood is prepared to assist lawmakers in addressing the remaining issues.
These remarks come amid an intensifying debate surrounding US crypto regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate Banking Committee postponed its scheduled markup of a comprehensive market structure bill. This bill is intended to provide clarity on when cryptocurrency assets should be classified as securities, commodities, or other financial instruments.
The delay followed Coinbase's decision to withdraw its support for the most recent draft of the bill. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong cited substantial concerns, including provisions that could potentially ban tokenized equities, restrict decentralized finance (DeFi) activities, and eliminate stablecoin rewards.
Tenev's Perspective on Artificial Intelligence and Employment
Beyond the realm of cryptocurrency, Tenev also shared his views on artificial intelligence during a separate interview with FOX Business. He countered the prevalent concerns that AI might lead to widespread job losses.
Tenev posited that AI is more likely to catalyze extensive innovation and give rise to entirely new categories of employment, rather than result in a net decrease in jobs.
"AI will lead to an explosion of not just new jobs, but new job families,"
he remarked. He further elaborated that while technological advancements may be occurring at an accelerated pace, historical patterns demonstrate that disruption typically reshapes the nature of work rather than eliminating it entirely.