Robinhood Token Proposal Fuels Wall Street vs Web3 Clash After Record Earnings

A viral HOOD token pitch ignited debate between Wall Street and Web3 advocates as Robinhood’s Q3 2025 earnings hit $1.27 billion in revenue and $556 million in net income.

The proposed fixed-supply token aimed to combine buybacks, user utility, and brand loyalty, sparking a discussion that extended beyond the industry.

How the HOOD Token Pitch Spread

Jeff Dorman of Arca Capital Management introduced the token concept as Robinhood posted record results and CFO Jason Warnick announced his retirement.

Dorman’s idea featured a fixed-supply $HOOD token, with 50% allocated to existing shareholders and the remaining 50% airdropped to platform users over time.

New account holders would receive tokens during a six-month promotion. Value would come from 5% of Robinhood’s revenue directed to buybacks, the token’s utility as collateral or for discounted trading, and its social status as a first-of-its-kind corporate token.

“A HOOD token would immediately teach every company how to issue a token as a 3rd part of the company’s capital structure, and have every investment banker immediately pitching every company, sports organization, university and municipality to do the same thing,” Dorman shared on X.

Dorman estimated that the proposal could create $10 billion to $30 billion in value for shareholders, suggesting that new users and long-term loyalty would outweigh the lost revenues from discounts.

He called the idea transformative for capital markets, far outpacing current blockchain models.

However, critics moved quickly, questioning Robinhood’s ability to implement such a token structure while upholding fiduciary duties. One cited the risk of shareholder dilution through token distribution.

The HOOD token debate highlights fintech’s turning point. While Dorman’s proposal remains hypothetical, it spurred widespread discussion about the likely rise of tokenized equity for public companies.

Coinbase’s report focusing on token design for its Base network is another sign that tokenization is being taken seriously as both a funding and engagement strategy.

Wall Street Versus Crypto: Jennings Responds

Miles Jennings, General Counsel and Head of Policy at a16z crypto, led the rebuttal. With experience at ConsenSys and Latham & Watkins, Jennings dismissed the token pitch as a new twist on an old security structure—profit-sharing interests.

“That’s just a profits interest, which is a type of security that’s been around for a long time. Using a security as collateral also isn’t new. Token + financial engineering + buzzwords ≠ innovation,” Jennings stated.

Jennings’ critique illustrated the divide in the tokenization debate. On the one hand, proponents see tokens as revolutionary. On the other hand, skeptics see them as financial engineering with new branding.

Jennings highlighted a16z’s call to separate genuine innovation from buzzwords.

The exchange also pointed to regulatory complications. SEC filings and Commissioner Hester Peirce’s statements articulate that tokenized securities must comply with US disclosure and fiduciary standards.

Nasdaq’s 2025 proposal for tokenized equity trading highlights the push to blend blockchain with existing markets, but always under regulatory oversight.

The debate coincided with Robinhood’s most impressive quarter yet. The company reported Q3 2025 crypto revenue of $268 million, marking a 300% year-over-year jump.

Net revenues doubled to $1.27 billion, and transaction-based revenues soared 129% to $730 million. Options revenue totaled $304 million while equities revenue reached $86 million.

Still, Robinhood’s shares declined 5% after hours. The drop followed a 280% rally earlier in the year and news of CFO Warnick’s departure.