Securitize, the digital asset firm that has spent years trying to convince the world that everything from private equity to debt should live on a blockchain, is finally taking its own advice and going public.
Cantor SPAC Propels Securitize into Public Markets
2 February 2026 - 11:00 CET
By Sandmark staff
The firm has announced a merger with Cantor Equity Partners II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Howard Lutnick’s Cantor Fitzgerald. The deal values the business at $1.25bn, a figure that suggests the market for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is finally maturing, even if the vehicle for the listing feels like a relic of a previous speculative bubble.
The tokenization revenue explosion
According to the official announcement, Securitize is currently riding a wave of institutional growth. The company provides the infrastructure for asset managers to modernize their settlement processes and expand investor access, using digital rails to replace the clunky legacy systems of the past. This surge is largely attributed to its role in managing institutional onchain products, proving that the demand for blockchain-based financial plumbing is no longer purely theoretical.
The decision to go public via a SPAC raises the usual questions about whether a traditional IPO would have survived the rigorous scrutiny of a standard roadshow. However, as we noted in our report on how institutional capital signals the end of crypto halving cycles, the entry of major players is fundamentally reshaping market dynamics. Securitize has built its reputation on creating the plumbing for institutional finance to move assets onto the blockchain. It operates as a registered transfer agent and broker-dealer in the US, providing a veneer of regulatory respectability that many of its peers lack.
Howard Lutnick’s institutional gamble
The partnership with Cantor Fitzgerald is the most intriguing part of the deal. Howard Lutnick has become a vocal cheerleader for the sector, with his firm already handling the treasury management for Tether. By sponsoring this SPAC, Cantor is doubling down on the belief that the future of the Nasdaq involves tokenized securities. This aligns with the broader trend we identified in Jan, where BitGo’s debut signaled a major shift in institutional sentiment. The transaction is expected to include rollover equity from existing shareholders, suggesting that the current backers are happy to wait for a public market exit rather than seeking an immediate cash payout.
Upon closing, the Securitize management team will continue to lead the business, joined by representatives from the Cantor sponsor group. This merger places Securitize at the forefront of a small group of digital asset companies testing the public markets in 2026. If the deal successfully navigates the SEC review process, it will serve as a bellwether for the entire RWA sector. However, the transition from a private disruptor to a public entity involves a level of transparency that often dampens initial enthusiasm. Whether the $1.25bn valuation holds up under the cold light of quarterly reporting remains to be seen.
