Securitize registers as SEC investment adviser as tokenization hits $5B in AUM

Securitize Capital's SEC registration adds an investment adviser license to the firm's regulated platform, positioning it to serve institutional clients exploring onchain portfolio strategies.

Securitize Capital, a subsidiary of tokenization firm Securitize (SECZ), registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser, the company said Monday, expanding its regulated platform for onchain capital markets.

"Asset managers and institutional investors want to work with partners that understand both the opportunity of tokenization and the obligations that come with operating in regulated markets," Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, said.

The registration transitions Securitize Capital from an exempt reporting adviser to a fully registered investment adviser, subjecting it to additional public disclosure, compliance, recordkeeping and examination requirements under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Through its U.S. affiliates, Securitize now combines an SEC-registered investment adviser with an SEC-registered broker-dealer and alternative trading system, an SEC-registered transfer agent and fund administration services. The firm oversees more than $5 billion in tokenized real-world assets as of July, according to the company.

The move comes as regulators examine how existing securities rules apply to blockchain-based investment products. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce said July 22 that certain crypto vaults and lending strategies may fall under investment adviser regulations depending on their structure and management. Curated vaults now hold about $8.6 billion in assets, according to Vaults.fyi data, as platforms including Coinbase and Robinhood offer yield products built on automated smart-contract strategies.

Securitize has emerged as one of the largest providers of tokenization infrastructure, partnering with asset managers including BlackRock, Apollo, KKR and VanEck. It issues BlackRock's BUIDL tokenized money market fund and works with the New York Stock Exchange to design the infrastructure behind tokenized securities trading. The firm completed its public listing on the NYSE earlier this month under the ticker SECZ. Its share price is down nearly 40% through July.

The company has already built infrastructure around tokenized vaults, including permissioned lending vaults with Euler that allow tokenized assets such as VanEck's VBILL fund to be used as collateral while maintaining investor eligibility requirements.

Regulatory Tailwind for Tokenized Asset Management

The SEC registration positions Securitize to deepen relationships with asset managers and institutional investors exploring onchain investment strategies, including tokenized vaults and other blockchain-based products. In Europe, Securitize operates through an affiliate authorized under the EU DLT Pilot Regime, making it the only company licensed to operate regulated digital-securities infrastructure across both the U.S. and EU, according to the firm.

The development signals a structural shift in how tokenization platforms approach regulatory compliance. As more traditional asset managers move assets onto blockchain rails, the demand for regulated intermediaries that can handle custody, trading, recordkeeping and advisory services across jurisdictions is likely to grow. Securitize's expanded license could accelerate similar registration moves from competing tokenization platforms seeking to capture institutional flows.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.