AMC CEO criticizes Robinhood stock tokens, stating the company has no connection

AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron criticized the AMC stock token launched by Robinhood on the X platform on Thursday, stating that AMC has no association with this product and does not endorse it. Aron indicated that Robinhood is clearly pushing a plan involving the "tokenization of real-world assets related to AMC (including stock tokens)" and called this practice "despicable" and "outrageous." AMC will request an investigation into this matter by external securities legal counsel.

Robinhood's stock tokens are derivatives that provide holders with economic exposure to U.S. stocks but do not confer ownership of the underlying stocks. Other tokenization models include custodians holding traditional stocks and issuing tokens as endorsements, as well as issuers authorizing the direct on-chain registration of stocks. This conflict comes at a time when tokenized stocks are attracting the attention of crypto exchanges, brokerages, and Wall Street institutions, as blockchain tracks enable round-the-clock trading, faster settlements, and broader distribution.

Robinhood has made tokenization a core part of its crypto expansion, launching tokens last year that track hundreds of U.S. stocks and ETFs, and is building its own blockchain to support tokenized assets. Previously, OpenAI also publicly denied the tokens related to it launched by Robinhood, stating that they do not represent OpenAI equity and that it has not collaborated with or endorsed Robinhood. AMC's opposition brings this controversy to the level of publicly traded companies.