BlackRock-backed tokenization firm Securitize clears key hurdle to go public on NYSE

Securitize, the tokenization specialist backed by BlackRock, moved a step closer to becoming a publicly traded company after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a key filing tied to its planned merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

The agency declared Securitize's registration statement for its proposed combination with Cantor Equity Partners II (CEPT) effective. The merger is with a blank-check company sponsored by an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, the companies said Friday.

The deal now heads to a shareholder vote scheduled for June 29. If approved, the transaction is expected to close shortly thereafter, with the combined company trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "SECZ."

The milestone comes as tokenization has emerged as one of the fastest-growing trends in finance. The process involves creating blockchain-based representations of traditional assets such as funds, bonds, private credit and equities. Proponents argue the technology can reduce settlement times, lower costs and enable assets to trade around the clock.

The market has attracted growing interest from global banks and asset managers including BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, JPMorgan and Fidelity. The tokenized asset market nearly tripled in a year surpassing $30 billion, RWA.xyz data shows. Citi has projected tokenized assets could reach $5.5 trillion by 2030, while a joint report from Boston Consulting Group and Ripple estimated the market could grow to $18.9 trillion by 2033.

Securitize has become one of the sector's most prominent infrastructure providers, supplying the tokenization, transfer-agent and trading technology behind products from firms including BlackRock, Apollo, KKR, Hamilton Lane and VanEck.

The company's highest-profile partnership is with BlackRock's BUIDL fund, a tokenized money market fund launched in 2024 that has grown into one of the largest tokenized Treasury products in the market.

The firm is also helping the New York Stock Exchange build its tokenized securities platform earlier this year.

Securitize going forward with its plan to go public is notable as several crypto companies such as Kraken and Consensys have halted efforts amid turbulent crypto markets.