Securitize rings the NYSE bell at SECZ, ringing in tokenization's Wall Street debut 🔔

Securitize, the BlackRock-backed firm specializing in digital representations of real-world assets, is set to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "SECZ" next week following the completion of its merger with Cantor Equity Partners II, a blank-check firm sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald. The transaction moved closer to closing this week after investors holding less than 30% of Cantor Equity Partners II's common shares elected to redeem their holdings. Securitize said it expects to receive approximately $400 million in proceeds from the combination and related private financing ahead of the deal's closing.

The public listing, eight years after the company was founded, represents a milestone for tokenization as the technology shifts from experimental infrastructure to a growing component of institutional finance, according to CEO Carlos Domingo. "The idea that major institutions would embrace tokenized securities was still largely theoretical," Domingo said. "Today, tokenization is moving into the mainstream, and we believe becoming a public company gives us the visibility, credibility, and capital to lead."

Securitize has built a roster of institutional clients beyond BlackRock, which used the firm for a tokenized money market fund launched in 2024. Other partners include Apollo, BNY, Hamilton Lane, and KKR. In March, the company announced an agreement with the NYSE itself to develop systems for blockchain-native securities. As of June, Securitize reported more than $4 billion in assets under management, with BlackRock's BUIDL fund representing the largest product on its platform at $2.4 billion as of Friday, according to RWA.xyz.

In a separate market development, Strategy's flagship preferred stock trading under the ticker STRC, branded as "Stretch," slipped to a record low of $71.25 shortly after U.S. markets opened on Friday before recovering to $75.30, a decline of roughly 0.5% on the day, according to Yahoo Finance. The issue is designed to trade around $100, leaving it down nearly 25% from its target level amid a broader pullback that has coincided with $BTC trading below $60,000.

Securitize's Domingo has continued to advocate for "native" tokenization, arguing that securities should be issued directly on-chain rather than wrapped in digital representations. The Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly delayed an innovation exemption for tokenized stocks last month after concerns were raised about third-party issuers and the governance complications of on-chain corporate actions, according to Bloomberg. SEC Chair Paul Atkins has publicly described tokenization as a technology with significant potential since taking the role.