SPAC Merger Nears Final Shareholder Vote
Securitize, a firm specializing in the tokenization of real-world assets, is set to merge with Cantor Equity Partners II (CEPT), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) backed by Cantor Fitzgeral
Less than 30% of CEPT shareholders have chosen to redeem their shares ahead of the merger, meaning Securitize will retain over 70% of the SPAC trust. This retention rate stands out in a market where high redemption rates often drain SPAC deals of capital before closing. On paper, SPACs are designed to bring private companies public efficiently, but high redemptions can undermine that promise.
The combined entity is slated to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SECZ as early as July 2, marking a significant milestone for blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
Shareholder approval for the merger is scheduled for June 29, just days before the anticipated July 1 closing date.
PIPE Investors Fuel Securitize’s Public Leap
The anticipated $400 million raise includes not just the capital held in the SPAC trust but also substantial PIPE investments—private placements that often serve as a vote of confidence from institutional backers. According to coindesk.com, these gross proceeds exclude transaction-related expenses and represent one of the larger recent capital raises in the digital asset infrastructure sector.
Shares in CEPT closed at $10.86 on Friday and rose to $11 after-hours following news of the upcoming merger and capital raise. The market’s immediate reaction signals cautious optimism about Securitize’s prospects as it transitions from a private company to a publicly traded entity.
It’s uncertain how much net capital Securitize will ultimately deploy after expenses and potential post-merger volatility settle.
See Also
BlackRock-Backed Firm’s Tokenization Gamble
Securitize is not entering public markets alone; its investor roster includes BlackRock, Ark Invest, Morgan Stanley, Coinbase, and Circle. In 2024, BlackRock notably used Securitize’s platform to launch BUIDL—a tokenized money market fund that reached $2.4 billion in value by June. As of this month, Securitize manages over $4 billion in assets across its tokenized offerings.
Founded eight years ago by CEO Carlos Domingo, Securitize has already facilitated blockchain-based investment products for major asset managers such as Apollo, KKR, Hamilton Lane, and VanEck. The firm’s recent agreement with the NYSE to develop systems for blockchain-native securities further underscores its ambition to bridge traditional finance with digital asset technology.
$30B Tokenized Asset Market Expands
The broader context for Securitize’s public debut is a rapidly growing market for tokenized real-world assets—digital representations of stocks, bonds, funds or other traditional financial instruments on blockchains. Excluding stablecoins, this market has already surpassed $30 billion in size according to rwa.xyz data cited by multiple industry sources.
Boston Consulting Group and Ripple forecast that tokenized real-world assets could reach $18.9 trillion by 2033—a figure that dwarfs current adoption levels and highlights both potential and uncertainty ahead.
What You Need to Know
- •Securitize expects to raise about $400 million through a merger with Cantor Equity Partners II (CEPT), including PIPE financing.
- •The merger is scheduled to close July 1, with SECZ shares expected to begin NYSE trading as early as July 2.
- •Less than 30% of CEPT shareholders elected to redeem, allowing Securitize to retain over 70% of the SPAC trust.
What to watch closely
If Securitize shareholders approve the merger with Cantor Equity Partners II on June 29, the transaction is scheduled to close July 1 and SECZ shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 2; if approval or closing conditions are not met, the public debut will be delayed.
