Securitize Targets £315m Funding & NYSE Debut via SPAC

BlackRock-backed tokenisation specialist, Securitize, is poised to raise approximately $400 million (around £315 million) as it prepares for a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The firm expects to finalise its merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), backed by Cantor Fitzgerald, next week, pending crucial shareholder approval. This move highlights the accelerating trend of real-world asset tokenisation within financial markets.

Securitize, a leading provider of tokenisation infrastructure for Wall Street, anticipates that the business combination with Cantor Equity Partners II (CEPT) will generate the substantial gross proceeds. This figure includes private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing, following lower-than-anticipated shareholder redemptions.

The transaction is scheduled for completion on 1st July, subject to shareholder approval at a meeting on 29th June, along with other standard closing conditions. If successful, the newly combined entity is expected to commence trading on the NYSE the very next day under the ticker symbol SECZ.

Tokenisation, the process of digitally representing assets like funds, bonds, and private credit on blockchain networks, is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Wall Street's digital asset strategy. The market for tokenised real-world assets has already surpassed $30 billion (excluding stablecoins), according to rwa.xyz. Industry projections from Boston Consulting Group and Ripple suggest this market could skyrocket to an astonishing $18.9 trillion by 2033.

Securitize has established itself as a critical infrastructure provider in this burgeoning market. The company, which boasts substantial backing from major asset managers such as BlackRock and Ark Invest, assists firms including Apollo, KKR, Hamilton Lane, and VanEck in issuing blockchain-based versions of traditional investment products. Furthermore, Securitize has been instrumental in aiding the New York Stock Exchange in developing its own tokenised securities platform earlier this year.

Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize, reflected on the company's journey, stating, "When we started more than eight years ago, the idea that major institutions would embrace tokenised securities was still largely theoretical. Today, tokenisation is moving into the mainstream." This forthcoming public debut signifies a significant milestone for Securitize and the broader tokenisation ecosystem, underscoring the growing institutional acceptance and adoption of digital assets within mainstream finance.