Robinhood has announced the launch of Robinhood Social, a new copy trading feature that lets users follow and manually replicate trades made by prominent investors. The move marks a sharp reversal for the brokerage, which just months ago cautioned that copy trading platforms like Dub were operating largely because they had avoided regulatory scrutiny.
Historically wary of features that regulators might see as “gamified,” Robinhood even scrapped its digital confetti animations ahead of its 2021 IPO. That caution made today’s entry into copy trading — another feature often viewed through a regulatory lens — especially notable.
CEO Vlad Tenev previously suggested that Dub’s smaller scale helped it avoid oversight, warning that copy trading could attract regulators’ attention as it grew. But Robinhood now appears confident the regulatory environment has shifted enough to make its own foray safer.
The decision comes against a backdrop of public criticism from Dub’s founder, Steven Wang, who has promoted Dub as a safer, more educational platform. Wang has argued that Robinhood’s simplified trading experience encourages gambling-like behavior, and he criticized the company for offering meme coins like TRUMP.
Despite speculation, Robinhood clarified that it has not acquired Dub, stating it is building its own platform. Unlike Dub or eToro’s CopyTrader, Robinhood Social won’t allow automatic trade copying. Instead, users will need to manually mirror trades — a design choice likely aimed at easing regulatory concerns.
The platform, scheduled for early 2026, will feature verified traders, including well-known investors and even members of Congress. It will also require identity verification and proof of real portfolio positions, setting it apart from the informal copy trading often seen on social media.
The launch highlights shifting U.S. regulatory attitudes toward copy trading, a feature long popular in Europe but constrained stateside. Robinhood’s move could pave the way for wider adoption across fintech if it successfully navigates compliance hurdles. For now, however, the biggest winners are likely Robinhood’s shareholders, as investor appetite for copy trading grows following eToro’s strong IPO earlier this year.
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