Securitize, the tokenization platform that works with BlackRock, has secured a license from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to act as a registered investment adviser. The move strengthens the company's Wall Street credentials at a time when regulators are weighing rules for onchain investment products.
What the license unlocks
The SEC adviser license allows Securitize to offer advisory services alongside its existing tokenization business. Until now, the company primarily helped issuers digitize assets like private credit and real estate. With the license, Securitize can directly advise clients on structuring and managing tokenized funds, a service that typically requires formal registration.
The company said the license broadens its offering as tokenization expands. It did not disclose specific new products or clients tied to the license.
BlackRock partnership and tokenization momentum
Securitize is the tokenization partner for BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. BlackRock has used Securitize's platform to issue tokenized versions of its money market fund shares. That partnership gave Securitize a high-profile foothold in the push to bring traditional assets onto blockchains.
Tokenization of real-world assets — bonds, private equity, real estate — has drawn growing interest from major financial firms. The process aims to make trading faster and cheaper by using blockchain rails. Securitize's new license positions it to offer a broader suite of services to institutional clients exploring that shift.
Regulatory landscape for onchain products
The SEC and other regulators are weighing rules for onchain investment products. The agency has signaled it wants to apply existing securities laws to digital assets, but the framework remains unsettled. Securitize's adviser license suggests the company is preparing for a more regulated environment, where firms need clear compliance structures to operate.
The license also gives Securitize a formal role in advising clients on tokenized offerings, which could help shape how those products are structured to meet regulatory expectations. The company has not commented on whether it expects the SEC to issue further guidance soon.
For now, Securitize holds a license that many fintech firms lack. Whether that advantage translates into a larger share of the tokenization market will depend on how quickly the broader regulatory picture comes into focus.
