OpenAI Warns Robinhood’s OpenAI Tokens Are Not Company Equity - 1

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OpenAI Warns Robinhood’s OpenAI Tokens Are Not Company Equity

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

OpenAI warned on Wednesday that it has not partnered with the trading app Robinhood, and does not endorse the tokens bearing its name that are being promoted by the financial service platform.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • OpenAI warned that it had not partnered with Robinhood on Wednesday.
  • Robinhood announced new tokenized equities for OpenAI and SpaceX at a crypto event in Cannes.
  • The AI company said Robinhood’s “OpenAI tokens” are not official equity.

According to CNBC , on Monday, Robinhood announced new tokenized equities for OpenAI and SpaceX at a crypto event in Cannes, France, pricing them at 5 euros. The trading company introduced the tokens as part of a broader product and services announcement, and encouraged European users to join the crypto platform.

In response to the announcement, OpenAI clarified that it is not involved in the offering and distanced itself from the initiative, adding that users should be careful.

“These “OpenAI tokens” are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it,” wrote OpenAI on a post on the social media platform X. “Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval—we did not approve any transfer. Please be careful.”

These “OpenAI tokens” are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it. Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval—we did not approve any transfer. Please be careful. — OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) July 2, 2025

OpenAI remains a private company and has not launched an IPO, despite long-standing speculation. Its final company structure , announced in May, includes a nonprofit entity that will remain the controlling stakeholder, and a for-profit arm that will transition into a Public Benefit Corporation.

According to Reuters , Robinhood explained that it set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)—without identifying the vehicle—which holds shares in OpenAI. The stock tokens are being distributed through a limited-time giveaway.

“To cap off our recent crypto event, we announced a limited Stock Token giveaway on OpenAI and SpaceX to eligible European customers,” wrote Robinhoon on X on Thursday. “These tokens give retail investors indirect exposure to private markets, opening up access, and are enabled by Robinhood’s ownership stake in a special purpose vehicle.”

Following the announcement of the new OpenAI and SpaceX tokens, Robinhood’s stock surged nearly 13%, climbing above $100—an all-time high—according to CNBC.

Tinder Now Requires Facial Recognition For California Users - 2

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Tinder Now Requires Facial Recognition For California Users

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Tinder now requires new users in California to complete a facial recognition scan, aiming to stop fake accounts and improve user safety.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Tinder now requires facial recognition for new users in California.
  • Face Check uses video selfies and biometric tech for verification.
  • Verified users receive a badge; selfie video is then deleted.

Starting this week, Tinder requires all new users from California to complete facial recognition verification, as first reported by Axios . The new “Face Check” tool has been confirmed by Match Group executives designed to fight fake accounts, online impersonation, and bots.

The Face Check process requires users to record a brief video selfie when they register their account. The system uses FaceTec biometric technology to confirm that the person exists in reality, that their profile pictures match their appearance, and that the account links to single profiles only.

After verification, the system grants users a verified badge. The system discards the video data but maintains an encrypted, unalterable face representation, which helps identify duplicate profiles.

“This person is a real, live person and not a bot or a spoofed account,” said Yoel Roth, head of trust and safety at Match Group, as reported by Axios. “We see this as one part of a set of identity assurance options that are available to users,” he added.

Face Check is a separate process from Tinder’s ID Check, which verifies user age and identity using government-issued identification documents. The photo verification process using video selfies used to be optional, but it’s now mandatory for Californians.

The feature was previously tested in Colombia and Canada. According to Roth, those pilots showed “promising” results: fewer reports of fake profiles and improved trust in the platform. California was chosen as the first U.S. market due to its size, diversity, and strict digital privacy laws, as reported by Axios.

The rollout comes at a critical time when artificial intelligence is fueling a rise in deepfake-enabled sextortion scams, particularly on dating platforms. The use of AI by scammers has become more prevalent, as they create sophisticated fake romantic profiles that use deepfake images, and use with chatbot-generated dialogue.

In some cases, criminals even superimpose victims’ faces onto explicit content using deepfake technology, eliminating the need for actual shared content before launching blackmail threats.

Law enforcement and safety experts warn that these scams are especially hard to detect, as AI-generated content often evades reverse image searches and traditional red flags like awkward phrasing or inconsistent visuals.

Tinder plans to assess how users in California respond before deciding whether to expand Face Check across the U.S.