Robinhood Markets is pushing deeper into artificial intelligence-driven trading, with CEO Vlad Tenev saying AI agents will soon be able to match human traders in capability. In an interview with CNBC, Tenev described "agentic trading" as an architecture in which an AI agent can perform every task a human trader can do.
The firm introduced a set of AI tools in May that allow AI agents to execute stock trades and make purchases on behalf of users. Those features are intended to bring automated, computational trading capabilities to a broader retail base, according to Tenev.
"The idea behind agentic trading…[is] every capability a human can do will be available to an AI agent," he said. Tenev pointed out that a substantial share of trading is already automated and powered by algorithmic systems, noting his own background in programmatic trading prior to founding Robinhood. He added, however, that the level of intelligence and complexity historically available to institutions has largely remained out of reach for everyday investors.
At Robinhood, the stated end goal for agentic trading is to provide retail customers with access to the same computational resources and tools that institutional and high-frequency trading firms have used for decades. The company frames this as an equalizing move - bringing institutional-grade automation and computation to its user base.
Alongside its AI push, Robinhood announced Wednesday that it will launch crypto trading in the United Kingdom as part of a wider European expansion. The company said this rollout is a step in extending its product suite to more international customers.
Robinhood's recent financial and operational context was also noted. In April, the company missed first-quarter profit expectations, a shortfall the firm attributed in part to crypto-driven market volatility that depressed trading activity. That same month, Robinhood said it would act as a broker and trustee for the Trump Accounts - accounts that have not yet been released - in partnership with the U.S. Treasury and BNY Mellon. On that topic, Tenev said: "The goal is to make this the best consumer product that the government’s ever been associated with."
Robinhood currently serves nearly 28 million customers across 38 countries on three continents. Market reaction to the company's recent developments has been mixed: shares rose more than 3% in premarket trading Thursday after an 8.35% gain Wednesday, while the stock is down about 5% year-to-date in 2026.
Key points
- Robinhood has rolled out AI tools that let agents trade stocks and make purchases for users - impacting retail brokerage and fintech sectors.
- CEO Vlad Tenev says agentic trading aims to equip retail investors with institutional-grade automation and computation.
- The company announced a U.K. launch for crypto trading and reported recent quarterly results influenced by crypto-driven market volatility - relevant to crypto markets and trading volumes.
Risks and uncertainties
- Market volatility tied to crypto activity has already affected Robinhood's trading volumes and profitability - a risk to revenue for brokerages and crypto exchanges.
- The Trump Accounts that Robinhood agreed to serve as broker and trustee for have not been released, creating uncertainty around that engagement and any operational implications.
- The timeline and real-world effectiveness of agentic AI matching human traders remain statements of intent from management rather than demonstrated outcomes.