In the wave of rapid integration between traditional financial markets and crypto assets, the xStocks zone launched by Gate exchange in early July 2025 is quickly changing the way global users trade stocks. This innovative service converts US stock assets into blockchain-based tokens (such as AAPLX representing Apple, TSLAX representing Tesla), allowing users to trade using USDT.24⁄7Round-the-clock spot and contract trading has completely broken the time and geographic limitations of traditional stock trading.
As of July 23, 2025, this special zone has launched popular stock tokens such as COINX (Coinbase), NVDAX (NVIDIA), AAPLX (Apple), TSLAX (Tesla), as well as MSTRx (MicroStrategy) and SPYx (S&P 500 ETF) from the Alpha zone.
What is xStocks trading?
xStocks is a tokenized stock trading service launched by Gate, supported by the compliant fintech institution Backed Finance. Its core principle is: to convert real listed company stocks (such as Apple and Google) into blockchain tokens through a 1:1 asset collateral model, and list them on the Gate platform for trading pairs.
Each token is anchored to the corresponding stock. Price Trend For example, buying 1 AAPLX token is equivalent to having an exposure to the value of 1 share of Apple stock.
Compared to traditional stock trading, the breakthrough of xStocks lies in:
- 24⁄724/7 Trading: Trade without the restrictions of NYSE or NASDAQ opening hours, available on weekends and holidays.
- Supports Fractional Share Investment: You can buy 0.1 TSLAX without being constrained by high-priced whole share thresholds.
- Freedom for Multi-Directional Operations: In addition to spot holdings, supports perpetual contracts with up to 10x leverage for long/short positions.
- On-chain Asset Transparency: All tokens are based on Solana or issued on the Ethereum chain, can be freely transferred and verified
Necessary Preparations Before Trading
Before entering the trade, you need to complete two key account operations:
- Fund Recharge: Recharge USDT to your wallet on the 【Assets】 - 【Spot】 page of your Gate account. This is the only settlement currency for trading xStocks. Multi-chain deposits and withdrawals are supported, including TRC-20, ERC-20, and others.
- Locate the trading entry point: After logging into the Gate website or App, select 【Trading】 - 【Spot】 or 【Contract】 from the top navigation bar, and then enter "xStocks" or the stock code (such as "AAPLX") in the market search box to bring up the trading pair.
Key tips: Different underlying assets support different product types. For example, COINX and NVDAX support spot and contract trading, while TSLAX only opens the spot market (as of data on July 23).
Spot Trading: Buy and Sell Tokenized Stocks
Spot trading refers to directly buying or selling stock tokens using USDT. The process is as follows:
Step 1: Select the target trading pair. Click on the asset (e.g., AAPLX/USDT) on the xStocks listing page to enter the trading interface.
Step 2: Analyze market data. The interface includes real-time K-line charts, order book depth, and Trade History (latest transactions). These tools help you assess price trends and liquidity.
Step 3: Place an Order. In the trading panel:
- Select "Market Order" (instant execution at the current best price)
- Select "Limit Order" (set a desired execution price, triggered when reached)
- Enter the purchase quantity or USDT amount (supports decimals, e.g., 0.5 units)
- Click [Buy AAPLX] to complete the operation
After the order is completed, the tokens will be deposited into the spot account and can be sold or withdrawn to a personal crypto wallet at any time.
Perpetual Contract Trading: Leverage and Long/Short Strategies
Gate has launched USDT-based perpetual contracts in the xStocks section, supporting up to 10x leverage. Here are the operating procedures:
Step 1: Switch to the contract section. Select【Contract】at the top of the trading interface, and search for the target contract (e.g., COINX/USDT perpetual).
Step 2: Set the leverage multiplier. Click the "Leverage" button on the contract panel to adjust between 1X and 10X (the upper limits vary by asset: COINX is up to 5X, while HOODX supports 10X). It is recommended for beginners not to exceed 3X.
Step 3: Open a long or short position:
- Click the [Long] button: Use when predicting a price increase.
- Click the [Short] button: Use when predicting a price drop.
- Enter the investment amount or the number of contracts
- It is recommended to synchronize the settings for Take Profit and Stop Loss levels.
Step 4: Monitoring and Closing Positions. You can view the floating profit and loss in the [Current Positions] list. Click [Close Position] to exit manually, or wait for the take profit or stop loss to trigger automatically.
Advanced Features: Alpha Zone and Strategy Orders
For professional traders, Gate has simultaneously launched xStocks products (such as MSTRx, SPYx) in the Alpha section, providing the following enhanced features:
- Lower slippage and faster matching: Optimizing the execution experience for large orders
- Strategy Combination Tool: Supports grid trading, arbitrage between spot and futures, and other automated scripts.
- Cross-chain integration: Tokens can be withdrawn to SOL or ETH on-chain wallets to participate in DeFi protocols.
In terms of order types, in addition to basic market and limit orders, Gate supports:
- Conditional Order: Converts to a limit order when the price reaches the set threshold.
- Trailing Stop: Dynamically follows the price to adjust the stop-loss level, protecting floating profits.
Trading Strategies and Risk Management Recommendations
Grasp the All-Weather Trading Window
Take advantage of breaking news (such as earnings report leaks) after the U.S. stock market closes to build positions in advance on Gate. For example, when positive news about Tesla occurs over the weekend, you can immediately buy TSLAX to avoid the traditional market opening gap.
Hedging with Contract and Spot Combination
- Hold a small short position in the contract market to hedge against the downside risk while holding AAPLX in spot
- Hedging between different assets: for example, taking opposite positions in tech stocks (NVDAX) and indices (SPYx)
Three Major Risks to Be Aware Of
- Leverage Liquidation Risk: When contract leverage is too high, even slight price fluctuations can trigger forced liquidation. It is recommended to maintain a margin ratio of over 50%.
- On-chain Price Fluctuation: When liquidity is insufficient, the token price may temporarily deviate from the actual stock price.
- Non-Shareholder Rights Restriction: Holding AAPLX does not grant voting rights as an Apple shareholder, and dividends may be issued in the form of USDT.
Latest opportunity alert: As of July 23, Gate is still offering trading rewards for new users on xStocks (such as contract experience vouchers), eligibility can be checked on the event page.
Future Outlook
xStocks is not just a trading feature; it represents a reconstruction of the traditional financial system by the crypto world. By eliminating broker thresholds, enabling fractional share investments, and providing 24-hour price exposure, Gate truly empowers global users with the ability to "invest in the world with a USDT wallet."
With the integration of more stocks and ETF tokens, xStocks is replicating Wall Street on-chain — but without walls. No matter where you are, all it takes is a smartphone to seize opportunities amid the fluctuations in Apple’s stock price, deploy strategies in Tesla’s market, or configure your crypto-enhanced index fund through SPYx.
