Securitize, a company pioneering the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), is taking a significant step toward public listing through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC). This $1.25 billion valuation deal merges Securitize with Cantor Equity Partners II, Inc., an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, and will list them on the Nasdaq stock exchange. This move marks a pivotal moment in Securitize’s mission to revolutionize capital markets through increased accessibility, transparency, and efficiency via tokenization. Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, envisions their technology driving the speed of the internet within financial markets. Meanwhile, Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, underlines the transformative potential of blockchain technology in finance. Securitize’s involvement with real-world assets encompasses traditional investments like property, bonds, and commodities, which are converted into digital tokens for trading, collateral purposes, or integration into decentralized finance (DeFi) systems. Securitize has secured funding from industry giants such as BlackRock, ARK Invest, and Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Notably, their work tokenizing the BUIDL fund managed by Blackrock highlights this shift in finance. This sector of real-world assets within crypto is experiencing strong growth fueled by a favorable regulatory environment in the United States. However, recent developments suggest potential roadblocks. Blockchain firm Ondo Finance has urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to delay or reject Nasdaq’s proposal for trading tokenized securities, emphasizing the need for enhanced oversight. Meanwhile, Rob Hadick, a general partner at Dragonfly venture capital firm, believes that while tokenized equities can benefit traditional markets, they may not have the same impact on the crypto industry. He highlights the advantages of 24/7 trading offered by tokenized assets, but institutions might prefer operating within isolated ecosystems rather than relying on general-purpose chains. This dynamic illustrates the burgeoning fusion of traditional finance and blockchain technology in the space of real-world asset tokenization.