Securitize, Inc is a financial technology company that provides businesses a platform to raise capital from institutional, accredited or retail investors (crowdfunding) with shares issued in the form of digital tokens recorded on the blockchain, including for Oddity (the parent of online beauty brand Il Makiage) and digital custodian Exodus, which used the Securitize platform to raise $75 million in 2021.[1][2] Securitize also operates a broker-dealer marketplace on which tokenized shares in private companies are traded.[3] Securitize has approximately 3,000 clients with a combined 1.2 million investors[4] and is regulated by both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA.[5] In June 2022, Securitize became authorized by the Spanish government to enter its securities test environment.[6]
Funding
editSecuritize has raised approximately $100 million in funding. Its most recent funding round was a $48 million Series B in June 2021,[7] led by Morgan Stanley and Blockchain Capital, in what Forbes described as "Morgan Stanley’s first dedicated investment in the crypto space."[8]
History
edit- November 2017: Securitize founded by Carlos Domingo and Jamie Finn[9][10]
- November 2020: Securitize acquires a broker-dealer license and automated trading system registration through the acquisition of Distributed Technology Markets[11]
- March 2021: Securitize facilitates Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank's issuance of the first credit-rated, asset-backed security token fund in Japan[12]
- May 2021: Securitize platform used to facilitate $75 million crowdfunded capital raise[citation needed]
- June 2021: Securitize completes $48 million Series B investment round[13]
- August 2021: Securitize facilitates the first television show to tokenize its net profits, "Hold On for Dear Life," produced and directed by Entourage's Rob Weiss[14]
- September 2021: Securitize launches marketplace for trading digital asset securities[15]
- October 2021: Securitize hires former SEC Division of Trading & Markets Director Brett Redfearn and announces Advisory Board including former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo[16]
- December 2021: Securitize launches first tokenized funds tracking Standard & Poors indices[17]
- February 2022: Securitize acquires Pacific Stock Transfer[18]
- May 2022: Securitize confirms it will only offer stablecoins backed by U.S. dollars such as USDC[19][20]
References
edit- ^ Vigna, Paul (2022-04-26). "Beauty Company Oddity to Offer Crypto Token Tied to IPO". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Alois, JD (2021-05-10). "First! Crypto Wallet Exodus Movement Becomes First Company to Raise $75 Million Under Updated Reg A+ Rules". Crowdfund Insider.
- ^ Harty, Declan (2021-09-28). "Securitize launches a platform for investing in everything from private company stocks to TV shows". Fortune.
- ^ Alois, JD (2022-06-27). "Securitize, a Digital Securities Marketplace, Expands Into Europe as it Enters Spain's Fintech Sandbox". Crowdfund Insider.
- ^ Gardner, Akayla (2021-10-20). "Blockchain Startup Securitize Hires Former SEC Official Brett Redfearn". Bloomberg.
- ^ Salces, Laura (2022-06-27). "Securitize brings security tokenization to the sandbox". El Pais.
- ^ Ramaswamy, Anita (2021-07-22). "Here's the 11-page pitch deck a blockchain startup looking to revolutionize private-markets investing used to nab $48 million from investors like Morgan Stanley". Business Insider.
- ^ Mason, Emily. "Morgan Stanley Co-Leads $48 Million Investment To Bring Blockchain To Capital Markets". Forbes.
- ^ "Securitize Raises 12.75 Million in Funding Led by Blockchain Capital". Crowdfund Insider.
- ^ "The 100 most creative Spaniards in the business world". Forbes. 2021-09-01.
- ^ Abdel-Qader, Aziz (2020-11-24). "Securitize will be capable of offering blockchain-based securities and at some point its own secondary marketplace". Finance Magnates.
- ^ Handagama, Sandali. "Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank to Issue Japan's First Security Tokens". NASDAQ.
- ^ Biekert, Mary (2021-06-21). "Morgan Stanley Backs Blockchain With Investment in Securitize". Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
- ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (2021-08-25). "Rob Weiss To Helm First Crypto-Based TV Show, 'Hold On for Dear Life'". Variety.
- ^ Jimenez, Marimar (2021-09-28). "Securitize launches a 'marketplace' to invest in shares of companies, real estate and tokenized investment funds". El Pais (in Spanish).
- ^ Miller, Hannah (2021-10-20). "Securitize Hires an Ex-Regulator". The Information.
- ^ Hajric, Vildana (2021-12-15). "S&P Dow Jones, Securitize Partner on Tokenized Crypto Funds". Bloomberg.
- ^ Lomax, Jenna (2022-02-23). "Securitize acquires Pacific Stock Transfer". Asset Servicing Times.
- ^ Denton, Jack (2022-05-12). "How a Digital Token Designed to Be Stable Fueled a Crypto Crash". Barrons.
- ^ Likos, Paulina (2022-05-17). "Crypto Crash: How Stable Are Stablecoins?". U.S. News & World Report.