Public offers a unified brokerage platform that lets retail and active investors trade stocks, options, crypto, bonds, ETFs and custom indices in a single interface with commission‑free execution and a 5.65% base margin rate. The service includes AI‑generated market insights, a high‑yield cash and bond account, and a RESTful API for programmatic order routing and data access. Revenue comes from margin spreads, options‑rebate earnings, API fees and premium subscriptions.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Retail and active investors often need to manage a diverse set of assets—stocks, options, crypto, bonds, and ETFs—through separate platforms, incurring fragmented fees, limited analytical tools, and higher margin costs. This fragmentation hampers efficient portfolio construction, real‑time decision making, and cost‑effective trading.
Solution
Public provides a unified, self‑directed brokerage platform that consolidates trading across equities, options, crypto, bonds, ETFs, and custom strategies such as direct indexing. The service offers commission‑free execution, an industry‑low base margin rate of 5.65%, and an options‑rebate program that returns $0.06–$0.18 per contract to active traders. Integrated AI tools (Alpha) deliver real‑time market summaries, earnings recaps, and multi‑factor index generation (Generated Assets). A RESTful Trading API enables programmatic order routing and data access. Yield‑bearing cash and bond accounts deliver competitive interest (3.3% APY, 5.5% bond yield) while SIPC and FDIC protections secure client assets. Together, these capabilities let investors trade, analyze, and optimize portfolios within a single, secure interface.
Target Audience
The platform targets active retail investors, DIY traders, and fintech‑savvy individuals who require multi‑asset access, low‑cost margin, and programmable trading capabilities. It also serves developers seeking API‑driven market data and order execution.
Features
- Commission‑free trading for stocks, ETFs, crypto, and fractional shares across 9,000+ securities.
- Options‑rebate program that credits $0.06–$0.18 per stock or ETF contract based on monthly volume.
- Base margin rate of 5.65% (lowest among major U.S. brokerages) with instant buying power up to $250 k.
- AI‑powered Alpha engine delivering GPT‑4 generated price‑movement insights, earnings call transcripts, and custom alerts.
- Generated Assets tool that creates tax‑optimized custom indices from natural‑language prompts using multi‑factor analysis.
- Public Trading API providing real‑time market data, order automation, and webhook notifications for developers.
- High‑Yield Cash Account (3.3% APY, no fees) and Bond Account (5.5% yield) for cash management and fixed‑income exposure.
- Full regulatory compliance (FINRA/SIPC member) with AES‑256 encryption, TLS, and FDIC insurance for cash balances.