Robinhood

Robinhood is a U.S.-based brokerage firm, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California. The platform revolutionized retail investing by eliminating trading commissions on stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies, making investing more accessible to everyday users.

Robinhood’s core appeal is its user-friendly mobile and web applications, designed for beginner investors looking for a simple and seamless experience. The platform provides fractional share investing, cash management accounts, and margin trading through Robinhood Gold.

Despite its rapid growth, Robinhood has faced regulatory scrutiny and controversy, particularly regarding its gamified trading approach, reliance on payment for order flow (PFOF), and temporary trading restrictions during high-volatility periods (e.g., GameStop stock trading halt in 2021).