Securitize and Cantor Fitzgerald announced a partnership on Wednesday to develop a framework for blockchain-based initial public offerings (IPOs) and follow-on equity offerings. The initiative aims to bring tokenization into the heart of public capital markets, allowing companies to raise capital through tokenized securities while fully operating within the existing regulatory structure for public offerings.
The framework is designed to support both IPOs—where private companies first list shares publicly—and follow-on offerings, where already-listed companies issue additional equity. For issuers, the draw is operational efficiency: tokenized securities can potentially improve settlement, recordkeeping, investor servicing, and transfer mechanics. For banks and broker‑dealers, the key challenge is whether blockchain infrastructure can be integrated without weakening compliance, market access, or investor protection standards.
Under the partnership, Securitize will supply the tokenization infrastructure for issuing, distributing, and servicing digital securities. Its SEC‑registered broker‑dealer affiliate, Securitize Markets, will participate in the offering and settlement process. Cantor Fitzgerald will contribute expertise in equity capital markets and trading, bridging blockchain technology with traditional underwriting and issuer advisory functions. The collaboration builds on an existing relationship: Securitize went public via a SPAC backed by Cantor Fitzgerald, and this new partnership extends that tie into capital markets infrastructure.
The announcement comes as tokenized securities gain traction. The market value of tokenized stocks on‑chain has grown 16% over the past 30 days to nearly $1.9 billion, according to RWA.xyz. In parallel, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. (DTCC) plans to pilot tokenization of stocks and U.S. Treasurys with nearly 40 financial companies—including JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs—with a target to roll out tokenized trading services by October. Assets expected to be used in broader tokenization pilots include shares of Microsoft and Circle, along with ETFs tracking the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and short‑term Treasury bonds.
The partnership signals that major capital‑markets firms are beginning to treat tokenization as infrastructure that can coexist with existing public‑market rules, rather than an alternative outside Wall Street. The next phase will focus on whether blockchain infrastructure can support regulated issuance, settlement, and servicing in markets where legal certainty and institutional trust are paramount.
