Fintech chains are the new App Store @RobinhoodApp is joining @coinbase, @krakenfx, and @okx in launching its own blockchain. @stripe may be next. But they’re not chasing decentralization — they’re building platforms. Just like @Apple launched the iPhone and developers built the App Store, these fintechs are bringing users on-chain and letting others build for them. By launching their own chain — instead of relying on general-purpose ones like Solana or Arbitrum — they aim to capture more of the value created by their user base. Robinhood doesn’t need to build stock-backed lending. @MorphoLabs could build it directly on their chain — just like it powers $400M in BTC-backed loans on @base. Robinhood integrates it, controls the UX, and captures the margin. They don’t need to list every token either. By integrating a DEX, they can give users access to thousands of assets instantly — no listing committee required. Thanks to rollup-as-a-service platforms like @gelatonetwork and @conduitxyz, launching an L2 on @Optimism or @arbitrum is now trivial. Infrastructure is outsourced, scalable, and composable — no need for 20 protocol engineers. This isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s a growth engine: → New services → New revenue streams → Minimal lift If you're a fintech with distribution, why rent blockspace when you can own the rails?