A new digital investment service allowing users to trade tokenized U.S. stocks directly within Telegram has been introduced in Uzbekistan as part of a pilot program overseen by the country’s National Agency for Prospective Projects.

The service, called “Crypto Stocks,” was launched within the Wallet feature in Telegram, giving users access to more than 60 tokenized shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.

The pilot program, scheduled to run for one month, is being implemented with support from Asterium, described as Uzbekistan’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Through the platform, users can buy, sell, store, and transfer tokenized versions of shares in major U.S. companies such as Apple, Tesla, Netflix, and Amazon, as well as ETFs that track the broader U.S. market, including funds linked to the S&P 500 index. These digital assets can be sent directly to other Telegram users within the app, eliminating the need to open accounts with traditional brokerage platforms.

Developers say the system is designed to simplify access to global financial markets. Investments can begin with as little as $1, allowing users to purchase fractional shares rather than full stocks, which lowers the financial barrier to entry for new investors.

Data cited from the Global Findex 2025 report indicates that more than 60% of Uzbekistan’s population now has an account with a bank or other financial institution. Despite this progress, challenges such as limited funds, long distances to bank branches, and the cost of financial services continue to limit access to traditional financial products for many people.

Andrew Rogozov, founder and CEO of The Open Platform and Wallet in Telegram, said the new feature aims to bring global investment opportunities to users through widely used digital platforms.

“By bringing tokenized equities into Telegram, we’re giving millions of people their first opportunity to participate in global financial markets directly where they communicate and use digital services,” he said.

Diyorbek Mukhammedov, Wallet’s regional director in Uzbekistan, noted that the initiative reflects growing interest in investing while addressing the complexity that often discourages new investors. Integrating investment tools directly into Telegram, he said, can make financial services easier to understand and access.

The system operates through integration with the xStocks platform and a partnership with the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange. Tokenized assets are issued by Backed and are designed to maintain one-to-one backing with the underlying U.S. stocks and ETFs. Trading on the platform is available 24 hours a day on weekdays.

Wallet in Telegram, supported by The Open Platform, reports more than 150 million registered users worldwide. The service became available in Uzbekistan in December 2025 after receiving a license from the National Agency for Prospective Projects.