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 (SEC) 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 effective. The merger with a blank-check company sponsored by an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald now heads to a shareholder vote scheduled for June 29. If approved, the combined company will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker 'SECZ'. Tokenization, which involves creating blockchain-based representations of traditional assets like funds, bonds, and equities, has emerged as a fast-growing trend in finance, with the market nearly tripling to surpass $30 billion in a year. Securitize has become a prominent infrastructure provider, powering products from BlackRock, Apollo, KKR, and others. Its highest-profile partnership is with BlackRock's BUIDL fund, a tokenized money market fund. The company is also helping the NYSE build its tokenized securities platform. The move is notable as several crypto firms have halted public listing plans amid turbulent markets.

Key facts

• SEC approved Securitize's registration for SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners II.
• Shareholder vote scheduled for June 29; ticker expected to be 'SECZ' on NYSE.
• Tokenized asset market nearly tripled to over $30 billion in a year.
• Securitize partners with BlackRock, Apollo, KKR; powers BlackRock's BUIDL fund.
• Securitize is helping NYSE build its tokenized securities platform.

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