Securitize to Go Public Through SPAC Merger at $1.25 Billion Valuation

According to Cointelegraph, Securitize, a company specializing in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), is set to go public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The merger with Cantor Equity Partners II, Inc., a blank-check company sponsored by an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, values Securitize at a pre-money valuation of $1.25 billion. This move will see Securitize listed on Nasdaq, marking a significant step in its mission to democratize capital markets by enhancing accessibility, transparency, and efficiency through tokenization. Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, emphasized the company's goal to make financial markets operate at the speed of the internet. Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, highlighted the transformative potential of blockchain technology in finance. Securitize's involvement in the tokenization of real-world assets includes traditional financial assets such as real estate, government bonds, and commodities, which are converted into digital tokens. These tokens can be traded, used as collateral, or integrated into decentralized finance (DeFi) systems. The company has previously received financing from major players like BlackRock, ARK Invest, and Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Notably, Securitize was responsible for tokenizing BlackRock's BUIDL fund, which has been integrated into DeFi. The niche of real-world assets within the crypto industry has been experiencing steady growth, supported by a favorable regulatory environment in the United States. In recent developments, blockchain firm Ondo Finance has urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to delay or reject Nasdaq's proposal to trade tokenized securities, citing the need for increased oversight. Meanwhile, Rob Hadick, a general partner at crypto venture firm Dragonfly, noted that while tokenized equities could bring benefits to traditional markets, they may not have the same impact on the crypto industry. He pointed out that tokenized assets offer the advantage of 24/7 trading, but institutions might prefer to operate within siloed ecosystems rather than on general-purpose chains. This ongoing evolution in the tokenization of real-world assets underscores the growing intersection of traditional finance and blockchain technology.