SECZ debuts, two blockchains onboard
Securitize, a digital asset firm founded eight years ago, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker SECZ on Thursday. This public listing follows a merger with a Cantor Fitzgerald-backed special-purpose acquisition company, marking one of the highest-profile blockchain infrastructure debuts in recent memory. Alongside its NYSE debut, Securitize launched tokenized versions of its shares on both the Solana and Avalanche blockchains, making it possible for eligible U.S. investors to access digital representations of SECZ stock through its regulated platform.
Tokenized stocks are digital assets that represent ownership in traditional equities, but are issued and transferred using blockchain technology. Securitize claims to have issued $266 million worth of tokenized SECZ shares at launch—what it says is the largest such issuance globally. These tokenized shares are available only to qualified U.S. investors for now, as regulatory requirements remain in place.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reiterated in January 2024 that tokenized securities must adhere to existing securities laws.
BlackRock-backed startup bets on tokens
Securitize’s move into public markets comes with heavyweight backing: both BlackRock and Morgan Stanley count among its investors. As of June, the company managed more than $4 billion in assets, reflecting growing institutional interest in blockchain-based securities infrastructure. The firm’s partnership with the NYSE, announced in March, aims to develop tokenized assets for an upcoming exchange platform dedicated to digital securities.
On paper, this signals Wall Street’s willingness to explore blockchain rails for mainstream finance—but Securitize’s approach still faces hurdles from regulators and market structure.
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Early trading sees modest SECZ gains
Shares of SECZ opened their first day with notable volatility, reaching a high of $13.70 before closing at $12.30—a 4.4% gain over their reference price. In after-hours trading, the price ticked up further to $12.60, representing a 2.4% additional increase. At one point during Thursday’s session, SECZ was up more than 8%, according to decrypt.co.
Securitize’s tokenized shares are now live on both Solana and Avalanche blockchains.
The launch brings new liquidity venues for investors who qualify under U.S. rules—though it remains uncertain how quickly these tokenized shares will see meaningful secondary market activity beyond Securitize’s own platform.
Wall Street meets Solana and Avalanche
The entry of Securitize’s shares onto two major blockchains is part of a broader trend: traditional finance firms are increasingly experimenting with issuing real-world assets as tokens. Recent data shows that the total value of the tokenized stocks market surpassed $1 billion in March 2026 and reached $1.67 billion by June, with nearly 181,000 unique holders across platforms like Ondo Finance.
But U.S. regulators continue to scrutinize these models closely. In January, the Securities and Exchange Commission clarified that issuer-sponsored tokenized securities must comply fully with existing securities laws—a reminder that innovation does not exempt firms from oversight.
Where tokenized stocks may go next
Securitize President Brett Redfearn—formerly director of trading and markets at the SEC—has argued that decentralized finance (DeFi) could challenge Wall Street’s dominance over practices like stock lending. Today, major brokers such as Robinhood retain as much as 85% of revenue from lending out customer shares; by contrast, DeFi-compatible tokenized equities could enable more direct participation for investors.
Other players are also pushing forward: Ondo Finance recently enabled proxy voting and corporate communications for holders of over 250 tokenized securities via a partnership with Broadridge. These features allow blockchain wallet authentication and bring traditional shareholder rights into the Web3 era.
Whether Securitize can attract significant trading volumes or inspire copycats remains uncertain—especially as competitors and legacy brokers like Robinhood prepare similar offerings for U.S. customers later this year.
What to Remember
- •Securitize began trading on the NYSE under ticker SECZ on Thursday after merging with a Cantor Fitzgerald-backed SPAC.
- •$266 million worth of tokenized SECZ shares were issued at launch on Solana and Avalanche blockchains.
- •Tokenized SECZ shares are available to eligible U.S. investors via Securitize’s regulated platform, in compliance with U.S. securities laws.
Key variables ahead
If Robinhood unveils tokenized equities compatible with DeFi as expected on Wednesday, it would immediately introduce a major retail brokerage competitor to Securitize’s newly launched tokenized SECZ shares on Solana and Avalanche; however, Robinhood’s exact product lineup remains unclear until the announcement.
