In 2026, global capital markets are undergoing a profound structural transformation. The boundaries between traditional finance and crypto assets are rapidly dissolving, and more investors are seeking to allocate both digital assets and equities within a unified account structure.
The US stock market, as the world’s largest and most liquid equities market, has always been a core allocation for global investors. Data shows that in January 2026, the nominal daily trading volume of the US equities market reached $20.25 billion. During the same period, the daily turnover of US stocks surpassed the $1 trillion mark, hitting $1.03 trillion—a 50% increase compared to January 2025. This scale of capital flow and market activity underscores the US stock market’s growing appeal to global capital.
However, for users holding crypto assets, investing in US stocks has long faced multiple barriers: converting crypto to fiat, completing cross-border remittances, opening accounts with traditional brokers, and managing positions across different platforms. This series of steps not only takes several days but also involves various fees and compliance hurdles.
Against this backdrop, Gate officially launched real stock trading services on June 1, 2026, becoming one of the first exchanges in the industry to directly connect to the US stock market within a crypto platform. So, what sets Gate’s real US stock trading apart? How does it stand out among competing solutions?
Real Assets vs. Derivatives: Gate Delivers "True Stocks"
Currently, there are three main ways to "buy US stocks with USDT": tokenized stocks, stock contracts (CFDs/perpetual contracts), and direct broker integration. Each approach differs fundamentally in asset nature.
Tokenized stocks are held by the issuer or their custodial arrangements. Users own on-chain tokens representing economic rights, not the stocks themselves. Stock contracts, meanwhile, have no legal connection to stock ownership—users purchase a contract tracking the price movement of US equities, and funding rates can spike during one-sided market moves. Both options are essentially "indirect exposure," meaning users do not actually own the underlying asset.
Gate’s real stock trading belongs to the third category—direct broker integration. Gate connects with Alpaca, a compliant broker holding US Broker-Dealer licenses and clearing qualifications, directly linking to major US securities markets like the NYSE and Nasdaq. Every share purchased on Gate is backed by an equivalent, genuinely registered stock asset, independently custodied through the DTC (Depository Trust Company) system.
The key distinction is this: When you buy NVDA, TSLA, AAPL, or AMZN through Gate, you’re trading real stocks in sync with Wall Street—not derivatives. During your holding period, you automatically enjoy full shareholder rights, including cash dividends, stock splits, rights issues, and other corporate actions.
Broad Asset Coverage: Over 10,000 US Stocks and ETFs for Comprehensive Allocation
Asset coverage breadth is a critical indicator of a stock trading platform’s core competitiveness.
As of June 2026, Gate supports more than 10,000 stocks and ETF assets. This comprehensive coverage spans the five major US securities exchanges and liquidity networks, including NYSE, Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, NYSE American, and BATS.
From sector distribution, whether it’s tech giants like Apple (AAPL), NVIDIA (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), or various thematic ETFs and traditional value stocks, users can buy and sell within the familiar crypto trading interface.
It’s worth noting that this asset coverage—over 10,000 securities—puts Gate ahead among platforms allowing US stock purchases with stablecoins. Most tokenized stock platforms typically support only a few hundred assets. Gate’s richer asset matrix gives users a more complete selection for global securities allocation.
Zero Holding Costs: Redefining the Cost Structure of US Stock Trading
Holding costs are among the most sensitive variables for long-term investors. With traditional US brokers, financing stock purchases usually means paying annualized interest rates of several percentage points or more. With perpetual contracts or CFDs, ongoing holding costs like funding rates, swap fees, and overnight fees can surge during trending markets.
Gate’s real stock trading uses a spot trading model, achieving "zero holding cost"—no funding rates, no swap fees, no overnight fees. Users can freely choose short-term trading or long-term holding strategies without incurring ongoing holding costs.
For users planning to allocate US stocks long-term, this cost structure offers significant advantages. For example, in scenarios where positions are held for more than a week, the difference between Gate’s zero holding cost and traditional brokers’ financing interest grows wider as the holding period extends.
24/7 Trading: Breaking the Time and Space Limits of Traditional Markets
Traditional US stock trading is restricted to fixed hours—regular trading runs Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time, with only 6.5 hours of trading per day. This narrow window is unfriendly to investors in different time zones worldwide.
Gate has made a major breakthrough in trading hours. On June 23, 2026, Gate upgraded stock trading to 24/7, covering US, Hong Kong, and Korean markets. In addition to pre-market, regular, and after-hours trading, Gate introduced overnight and weekend trading sessions. The initial 24/7 rollout supports 197 stock tickers: 179 US stocks, 15 Hong Kong stocks, and 3 Korean stocks.
What does this upgrade mean? Users no longer have to wait for the opening bell or worry about missing opportunities due to market closures. Earnings announcements can be acted on immediately, macroeconomic data can be reflected instantly, and geopolitical events can be responded to without delay. Gate is transforming stock trading from passive reaction to continuous strategic operation.
Independent Account Structure and SIPC Protection: Dual Security Architecture
Asset security is the foundation of any investment decision. Gate employs a dual-layer security architecture.
The first layer is the Omnibus account structure. Gate stocks connect directly to US securities markets via compliant brokers holding US Broker-Dealer licenses and clearing qualifications. Every share purchased on Gate is backed by an equivalent, genuinely registered stock asset, custodied by SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation) member brokers. Under qualifying conditions, securities assets enjoy up to $500,000 in SIPC coverage.
The second layer is an independent account system. Gate stock assets are completely separated from contract and spot accounts, with funds managed independently. This means even if a contract account is liquidated or spot trading incurs losses, assets in the stock account remain unaffected and cannot be cross-utilized for margin calls. This design fundamentally eliminates the cross-collateral risks commonly seen in traditional broker margin accounts.
Ultra-Low Entry Barrier: Fractional Shares and USDT Settlement
Gate has systematically lowered the barriers to participation.
On the capital side, Gate stock trading supports fractional shares starting at 0.01 shares, allowing users to invest in leading US stocks like Apple, NVIDIA, and Tesla for as little as $1. For users holding USDT with smaller capital, this means they can start allocating US stock assets with minimal funds.
On the process side, Gate’s direct USDT settlement model eliminates friction in the traditional path. Previously, crypto users wanting to invest in US stocks had to go through the lengthy process of "sell crypto → withdraw fiat → cross-border transfer → open broker account and fund," which takes days and incurs multiple fees. Gate simplifies this chain to: have USDT in your account → transfer to stock account → one-click stock purchase. No currency exchange, no cross-border remittance, no need to open additional broker accounts.
On the fee side, Gate stocks are fully integrated into the platform’s VIP tier system. Users only need to hold $2,000 to qualify for VIP, enjoying exclusive stock trading fees as low as 0.023%.
Summary
Gate’s differentiated advantages in real US stock trading can be summarized across four core dimensions:
Asset authenticity: Real stocks via direct broker integration—not tokenized products or CFDs. Users enjoy full shareholder rights and SIPC protection.
Cost advantage: Zero holding cost structure—no funding rates, no swap fees, no overnight fees—fundamentally reducing the financial burden of long-term US stock holdings.
Trading hours: 24/7 trading, breaking the time and space constraints of traditional markets, enabling global users to respond to market changes anytime.
User experience: Direct USDT settlement, fractional shares starting at $1, unified account management for crypto and stock assets, eliminating the complexity of traditional cross-border investing.
As traditional finance and crypto assets converge rapidly in 2026, Gate is making a critical leap from "crypto exchange" to "multi-asset allocation platform." For investors seeking to allocate both digital assets and US stocks within a single account system, Gate offers a truly "one-stop" solution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Are the US stocks traded on Gate real stocks or tokens?
Gate offers real stocks—not tokenized products or CFDs. By connecting with Alpaca, a compliant broker holding US Broker-Dealer licenses, Gate directly accesses major US securities markets. Every share purchased on Gate is backed by real assets independently custodied via the DTC system.
Q2: Do I need to open a separate broker account to trade US stocks on Gate?
No. Once you complete Gate’s KYC and regional access requirements, you can buy, hold, and sell stock assets directly within the Gate platform—no need to open an additional US stock account.
Q3: What assets are supported for US stock trading on Gate?
As of June 2026, Gate supports over 10,000 US stocks and ETFs, covering NYSE, Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, NYSE American, and BATS—the five major exchanges.
Q4: What fees apply to US stock trading on Gate?
Gate spot stocks use a zero holding cost model: no funding rates, no swap fees, no overnight fees. Trading fees are integrated into the platform’s VIP tier system, with rates as low as 0.023%.
Q5: Does Gate support 24/7 US stock trading?
Yes. On June 23, 2026, Gate officially upgraded to 24/7 stock trading, covering US, Hong Kong, and Korean markets.
