Robinhood

A fintech brokerage founded in 2013 that popularized commission-free stock and options trading through a mobile-first platform. Robinhood attracted millions of first-time investors, particularly millennials and Gen Z, and its gamified interface drew both praise for democratizing access and criticism for encouraging reckless speculation. The company faced intense backlash in January 2021 when it restricted trading in GameStop and other meme stocks during the short squeeze, citing clearinghouse capital requirements.