#GatePartnersWithAlpacaToBridgeCryptoAndStocks

GATE PARTNERS WITH ALPACA TO BRIDGE CRYPTO AND STOCKS: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Gate has officially announced a landmark strategic partnership with Alpaca, a leading U.S.-regulated brokerage infrastructure provider, to bring real stock trading capabilities to its global user base of over 54 million users. This collaboration represents one of the most significant moves by a major cryptocurrency exchange to integrate traditional financial markets into a crypto-native platform, allowing users to access more than 10,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs using USDT as the settlement currency. The partnership signals a broader industry trend toward convergence between digital assets and traditional finance, eliminating friction points that have historically separated these markets.

THE PARTNERSHIP: KEY DETAILS AND STRUCTURE

CORE PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK

• Primary Objective: Enable eligible Gate users worldwide to trade real U.S. equities directly from the crypto platform

• Stock Universe: Access to over 10,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs listed on NYSE and Nasdaq

• Settlement Currency: USDT (Tether), eliminating the need for fiat currency conversion

• Minimum Investment: Fractional share trading starting at just $1

• Infrastructure Provider: Alpaca serves as the regulated clearing broker handling execution, clearing, settlement, custody, dividends, and corporate actions

ALPACA'S CRITICAL ROLE

Alpaca is not merely a technology vendor in this arrangement. As a U.S.-headquartered, self-clearing broker-dealer with FINRA and SIPC membership, Alpaca provides the regulatory backbone that makes real stock ownership possible. The company brings substantial credentials to the partnership:

• Over 10 million brokerage accounts supported across hundreds of fintechs and institutions

• Presence in more than 40 countries

• Over $320 million in funding backing its infrastructure

• API-first architecture that enables seamless integration with Gate's existing platform

• Support for over 11,000 U.S. listed stocks and ETFs, with more than 5,000 securities available for fractional trading

STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE AND MARKET IMPLICATIONS

FOR GATE: EVOLUTION INTO MULTI-ASSET FINANCIAL PLATFORM

This partnership accelerates Gate's transformation from a pure cryptocurrency exchange into a comprehensive multi-asset financial platform. The strategic implications are substantial:

• Unified Account Structure: Users can now access digital assets, traditional equities, indices, commodities, metals, and foreign exchange markets through a single account

• Reduced User Friction: Eliminates the need for separate brokerage accounts, lengthy onboarding procedures, and capital movement across multiple platforms

• Competitive Positioning: Positions Gate closer to full-service financial platforms that already offer multi-asset investing solutions

• Global Accessibility: Particularly valuable for users in emerging markets who face barriers accessing U.S. equities through traditional channels

FOR THE INDUSTRY: CRYPTO-TRADFI CONVERGENCE ACCELERATES

The Gate-Alpaca partnership exemplifies a broader industry shift from disruption to integration:

• Regulated Infrastructure Adoption: Crypto platforms increasingly leverage traditional regulated infrastructure rather than building parallel systems

• Market Maturity: Recognition that sustainable growth requires compliance with established financial regulations

• User Experience Unification: Meeting investor demand for single-platform access to diverse asset classes

• Competitive Response: Reflects a growing trend among major exchanges to expand beyond crypto-only offerings

USER BENEFITS AND ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES

KEY ADVANTAGES FOR GLOBAL INVESTORS

• Fractional Share Access: Invest in premium stocks like NVIDIA, Apple, or Microsoft with as little as $1

• USDT Settlement: No need to convert crypto holdings to fiat currency or manage separate fiat accounts

• Simplified Onboarding: Leverage existing Gate account infrastructure and verification procedures

• Extended Market Access: Potential for broader trading-hour availability following industry trends

• Dividend Processing: Real dividend payments and corporate actions handled through regulated clearing infrastructure

• Regulatory Protection: Investor safeguards supported through Alpaca's regulated brokerage framework

TARGET USER SEGMENTS

• Crypto-native investors seeking diversification into traditional equities

• Global users in markets with limited access to U.S. stock brokerage services

• Retail investors wanting unified portfolio management across asset classes

• Users preferring stablecoin settlement over traditional banking rails

LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES AND VISION

According to Gate leadership, the future of finance is becoming increasingly interconnected, and this partnership aims to provide seamless access to stock market investing while maintaining the simplicity and efficiency expected from modern digital asset platforms.

Alpaca leadership emphasized its mission of opening financial services to everyone through modern infrastructure, highlighting the goal of creating a more connected and efficient global investment experience.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE AND INDUSTRY CONTEXT

RECENT INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

Several major platforms have recently expanded beyond their traditional focus areas:

• Broader stock and ETF access through crypto platforms

• Expansion into equity-linked trading products

• Introduction of real-stock trading services integrated with digital asset ecosystems

• Strategic partnerships between fintech and crypto infrastructure providers

MARKET DIFFERENTIATION FACTORS

Gate's approach stands out through:

• Direct USDT settlement without requiring fiat conversion

• Integration with an established regulated clearing broker

• Access to a large global user base exceeding 54 million users

• Existing transparency initiatives and infrastructure

REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE

ALPACA'S REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

• FINRA membership

• SIPC coverage

• Self-clearing broker-dealer status

• Compliance with U.S. securities regulations

USER ELIGIBILITY

• Service availability remains subject to jurisdictional restrictions

• Standard KYC and AML requirements apply

• Regulatory limitations may affect access in certain regions

CONCLUSION: A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR FINANCIAL INTEGRATION

The Gate-Alpaca partnership represents more than a product expansion. It signals a meaningful shift in how digital asset platforms position themselves within the broader financial ecosystem. By leveraging regulated brokerage infrastructure, Gate can offer real stock trading while maintaining the crypto-native experience familiar to its users.

For millions of users on the platform, this development removes significant barriers to accessing U.S. equity markets. The ability to trade fractional shares of major companies using USDT without leaving a familiar platform environment demonstrates the continued convergence of traditional finance and digital assets.

As financial markets continue to evolve, partnerships between crypto-native companies and regulated financial infrastructure providers are likely to become increasingly common. The platforms that successfully combine accessibility, compliance, user experience, and trust may be best positioned to capture the next phase of global financial innovation.

The Gate-Alpaca collaboration serves as a compelling example of how digital asset platforms can expand into traditional markets through strategic partnerships while creating new opportunities for investors around the world.