Securitize Lands $10 Million From ARK Invest, Eyes $1B Valuation Through SPAC Merger or IPO

Securitize, a leader in the tokenization of real-world assets, is entering a new phase of growth as it attracts fresh institutional backing and considers going public. The blockchain firm has secured a $10 million investment from Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest while reportedly exploring a $1 billion SPAC merger with Cantor Fitzgerald’s Cantor Equity Partners II.

Together, these developments highlight the accelerating convergence of Wall Street and blockchain infrastructure — with Securitize positioned at the center of finance’s next digital transformation.

ARK Invest’s Strategic Investment

ARK Invest’s $10 million stake in Securitize was made through its ARK Venture Fund, which now lists the blockchain company as its eighth-largest position, representing 3.25% of total assets. The investment underscores ARK’s conviction that tokenization is set to redefine capital markets, making financial instruments tradable and programmable on blockchain rails.

For ARK, this marks more than a financial bet — it’s a statement on the future of finance. The firm views tokenization as a natural progression of digital assets, one capable of streamlining settlement, expanding access to private markets, and modernizing financial infrastructure.

Securitize’s Foundations and Growth

Founded in 2017 by Carlos Domingo and Jamie Finn, Securitize has become one of the most trusted names in blockchain-based finance. The company enables traditional assets such as U.S. Treasuries, real estate, and equities to be digitized and managed on-chain through a compliant and regulated platform.

Securitize is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a transfer agent and holds additional regulatory approvals across Europe and Japan, giving it a rare level of global compliance.

A defining moment came when BlackRock selected Securitize to power its USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) — now the largest tokenized U.S. Treasury fund in existence, with over $2.8 billion in assets. Securitize also supports VanEck’s VBILL tokenized fund and offers settlement capabilities using Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, extending its influence across institutional-grade tokenization.

Today, Securitize manages roughly $4.6 billion in tokenized assets, making it the clear market leader in the real-world asset (RWA) sector.

$1 Billion SPAC Merger Under Discussion

Reports indicate that Securitize is in talks to merge with Cantor Equity Partners II, a $240 million SPAC backed by Cantor Fitzgerald. If completed, the deal would value Securitize at over $1 billion and mark one of the few public listings for a blockchain-native firm.

Cantor Equity Partners II is chaired by Brandon Lutnick, son of Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, who also serves as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Shares of the SPAC surged over 12% following news of the potential merger, signaling strong market confidence in tokenization’s momentum.

Should the transaction move forward, Securitize would join a select group of blockchain infrastructure companies to go public — a milestone that could further legitimize tokenized finance in mainstream markets.

Institutional Backing Strengthens Tokenization Momentum

Securitize’s list of backers reads like a roster of global financial leaders, including:

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This lineup demonstrates broad institutional belief in tokenization’s potential to transform how assets are issued, traded, and settled across global markets.

The Future of Tokenization and Capital Markets

The broader tokenization market is growing at an unprecedented rate. Industry projections suggest it could unlock tens of trillions in value over the next decade by bringing private credit, bonds, funds, and commodities onto blockchain systems.

For ARK Invest, the Securitize deal represents a strategic foothold in the infrastructure driving that evolution. For Securitize, it signals readiness for scale — whether that next step comes through a SPAC merger or a traditional IPO.

Analyst Insight