New projections by Binance Research reveal that crypto exchanges could collectively channel $2 trillion in incremental capital and nearly 300 million new investors into global equity markets by 2031 under the base-case scenario.
In a bull case, annual incremental equity capital could reach $5 trillion within the next five years.
Equity market participation outside the U.S. remains below 20 percent
The report notes that this opportunity is rooted in a significant imbalance in global market participation. The report finds that equity market participation outside the United States remains broadly below 20 percent of the population, despite American equities accounting for approximately half of total global equity market capitalization by full market cap and over 60 percent on a free-float-adjusted basis.
Foreign investors hold only around 18 percent of the U.S. market. This leaves a vast pool of global capital underexposed to the world’s most liquid equity market.
Fractional access to boost participation
Early data from Binance stock trading also points to strong structural demand. Nearly 93 percent of early adopters come from emerging markets, where geography and brokerage barriers have historically limited participation.
The report also identifies fractionalization as a critical enabler in these markets. In 2026, SNDK and MU rose more than 620 percent and 270 percent, respectively, to $1,716 and $1,064 per share.
In regions where average monthly income remains below $300, fractional access can materially lower the threshold for participation.
Stablecoins are becoming a preferred settlement layer for investors
Beyond access to the assets themselves, the report also highlights the importance of settlement infrastructure. The report finds that stablecoins are increasingly becoming a preferred settlement layer for investors seeking 24/7 equity exposure.
In cross-border transactions, stablecoins can eliminate average off-ramp costs of 3.6 percent, or about $40 per transaction. TradFi-linked perpetuals have grown from a negligible base to roughly 10 percent of total stablecoin trading volume, with demand expected to deepen further as direct stock trading and tokenized equity markets develop.
In the report, Binance Research notes that as exchanges evolve into financial super-apps — consolidating crypto, equities and cash management within a single account — the friction between holding capital and deploying it effectively collapses. With barriers removed, portfolio construction becomes intuitive rather than institutional.
