Securitize taps former IMF representative Sunil Sabharwal for board role as tokenization push accelerates
Securitize has brought in seasoned finance executive and former International Monetary Fund representative Sunil Sabharwal as a new member of its board of directors, reinforcing its ambitions in the rapidly growing market for tokenized real‑world assets and its path toward becoming a publicly traded company.
The firm, which specializes in putting traditional financial products on blockchain rails, said Sabharwal’s appointment strengthens its bench in global payments, cross‑border finance and public policy at a moment when large institutions are increasingly experimenting with tokenized funds and securities.
Sabharwal, a longtime investor and operator in the payments and financial services industries, served as the U.S. representative to the IMF from 2016 to 2018, a role to which he was confirmed by the Senate. That experience gave him exposure not only to macroeconomic and financial stability issues, but also to the regulatory and policy frameworks that now intersect with emerging crypto and tokenization markets.
Securitize co‑founder and chief executive Carlos Domingo highlighted the dual nature of Sabharwal’s background, spanning private‑sector innovation and public‑sector oversight. According to Domingo, Sabharwal’s career has centered on “building and scaling financial infrastructure at a global level,” a skill set the company expects to be crucial as tokenized assets transition from niche experiments to core components of capital markets infrastructure.
Domingo emphasized that tokenization is crossing a critical threshold: moving from an early‑stage concept to being embedded in the plumbing of financial markets. In that context, he argued, having a board member who understands both regulatory expectations and the economics of payments networks will be key as Securitize designs products meant to satisfy institutional investors, asset managers, and regulators simultaneously.
Sabharwal currently holds board positions at fintech firms Thunes and TookiTaki, both of which operate in heavily regulated parts of the financial system. He previously chaired Earthport and Ogone, two payment companies that ultimately attracted strategic acquirers: Earthport was purchased by Visa, while Ogone was acquired by Ingenico. Those exits underscore his track record in steering infrastructure‑style businesses toward scale and eventual integration into the global payments ecosystem.
Across his career, Sabharwal has been closely involved with cross‑border payments, anti‑money‑laundering controls, and strategic expansion into new markets. For Securitize, that translates into board‑level experience in reconciling innovation with regulatory compliance – an ongoing challenge for any company seeking to tokenize traditional assets while remaining inside the guardrails of securities and banking law.
His public service was recognized with the U.S. Treasury’s Distinguished Service Award. Nominated as U.S. executive director at the IMF by former President Barack Obama in 2016, Sabharwal remained in the role into the early part of President Donald Trump’s administration, stepping down in 2018. The position demanded constant engagement with central banks, finance ministries, and multilateral institutions – circles that increasingly debate how digital assets and tokenization will impact capital flows and financial stability.
Since 2021, Sabharwal has acted as an advisor and operating partner to the Blackstone Growth Equity Fund, according to his professional profile, giving him direct exposure to late‑stage technology and fintech investments. He previously served as an advisor to SpiceVC, one of Securitize’s early backers, which means he has been familiar with the company’s strategy and product roadmap well before formally joining the board.
Securitize today oversees more than $4 billion in tokenized, on‑chain assets. Its infrastructure underpins products associated with some of the largest names in asset management and private markets, including BlackRock, Apollo, BNY, Hamilton Lane, KKR, and VanEck. That roster illustrates how far tokenization has progressed from experimental pilots to institutional‑grade offerings designed for sophisticated investors.
Among its flagship products is the BUIDL fund from BlackRock, a tokenized fund that has become one of the most prominent examples of how traditional asset managers can use blockchain technology to modernize fund distribution and settlement. Through such products, Securitize has positioned itself as one of the core providers in the real‑world asset (RWA) tokenization segment, a niche now viewed by many large institutions as a practical and revenue‑generating use case for blockchain.
The timing of Sabharwal’s appointment is especially notable as Securitize continues to broaden its tokenized offerings and deepen relationships with large asset managers and financial institutions. Market participants – from banks to hedge funds to family offices – are paying closer attention to platforms that can issue, manage, and trade tokenized versions of bonds, funds, and other traditional securities with the promise of shorter settlement times and expanded investor access.
In parallel, Securitize is working toward a public listing through a merger with Cantor Equity Partners II, a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald. The two firms signed a definitive acquisition agreement in October, paving the way for Securitize to become a publicly listed entity if the transaction is completed and approved by shareholders and regulators.
Under the terms announced, the deal would value Securitize at approximately $1 billion. The combined company is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol CEPT, signaling Securitize’s intention to stand alongside mainstream financial and technology firms on a major U.S. exchange rather than remain confined to the private markets.
Crucially, the transaction would allow Securitize to tap into the roughly $240 million raised by Cantor Equity Partners II in its initial public offering. That capital is earmarked to fuel growth: expanding product lines, entering new jurisdictions, reinforcing compliance and licensing capabilities, and potentially pursuing acquisitions that complement Securitize’s tokenization stack.
Why adding Sabharwal matters for Securitize’s public listing plans
The decision to bring Sabharwal onto the board goes beyond adding an impressive resume. Moving into the public markets places a company under far more stringent scrutiny – from regulators, institutional investors, and public market analysts. A board member with deep experience in multilateral finance and global regulation can help Securitize:
– Anticipate policy shifts that may affect tokenized securities, stablecoins, and digital market infrastructure.
– Communicate more effectively with regulators and policymakers, particularly on questions around investor protection, market integrity, and systemic risk.
– Shape governance, risk, and compliance frameworks that meet public‑company standards in both crypto‑native and traditional financial contexts.
His background at the IMF and in payments also offers Securitize a more nuanced understanding of how tokenization could interact with cross‑border capital flows, sanctions regimes, and anti‑money‑laundering rules – critical considerations as institutional adoption widens.
Tokenization’s evolution from experiment to infrastructure
The broader industry context also helps explain why a profile like Sabharwal’s is attractive to Securitize right now. Tokenization initially gained traction as a buzzword but is increasingly viewed as a credible way to modernize legacy financial infrastructure:
– Fund managers are experimenting with tokenized money‑market funds and short‑term debt instruments.
– Private market firms are exploring digital shares for private equity, credit funds, and alternative investments.
– Banks and custodians are building capabilities to hold, service, and settle tokenized securities alongside traditional assets.
As this shift accelerates, tokenization platforms must be able to operate safely under existing securities laws while preparing for new regulatory categories that may emerge. Experienced board members who can bridge the gap between digital innovation and prudential oversight are likely to become a differentiator for firms like Securitize.
What this means for institutional investors and partners
For Securitize’s current and prospective partners – such as asset managers, private equity firms, and banks – Sabharwal’s appointment sends several signals:
– Regulatory seriousness: The company is explicitly aligning itself with individuals who understand public policy and international regulatory environments.
– Long‑term orientation: Rather than focusing solely on short‑term crypto cycles, Securitize appears to be building for multi‑year integration into mainstream financial infrastructure.
– Governance maturity: A stronger, more diverse board composition is often a prerequisite for larger institutions when selecting technology partners for core products.
This may, in turn, make it easier for risk committees and compliance teams at large financial institutions to sign off on using Securitize infrastructure for bigger, more complex tokenization initiatives.
Potential strategic directions after the listing
If the merger and Nasdaq listing proceed as planned, Securitize will likely enter a new phase in which public‑company discipline and capital can support several strategic moves:
– Geographic expansion: Entering or deepening presence in jurisdictions with clear digital asset frameworks, such as parts of Europe, Asia, or the Middle East.
– Broader product suite: Adding tokenized fixed income, structured products, or multi‑asset vehicles tailored to different regulatory regimes and investor profiles.
– Secondary market development: Building or supporting regulated trading venues where tokenized securities can change hands with reliable liquidity and transparent pricing.
– Integration with traditional finance: Deeper connectivity with custodians, transfer agents, and banking systems so that tokenized assets can sit comfortably in existing portfolios and reporting tools.
Having a board member familiar with cross‑border payment systems and multilateral institutions can help Securitize calibrate these moves to fit varying national and regional regulatory expectations.
The role of governance in the next phase of tokenization
As tokenized products become more closely intertwined with mainstream portfolios, governance is no longer a back‑office detail. It becomes part of the product’s value proposition. Investors will scrutinize not only yields and fees, but also:
– Who sits on the board and what expertise they bring.
– How conflicts of interest are managed between issuers, platforms, and investors.
– How incidents – such as smart‑contract bugs, custody failures, or market dislocations – are handled and disclosed.
By installing a director with a strong track record in regulated markets, Securitize is signaling it intends to compete not only on technology, but also on governance standards and institutional credibility.
Positioning within the competitive tokenization landscape
Securitize operates in a crowded and rapidly evolving field. Major asset managers, banks, and crypto‑native firms are all vying to define the standards and dominant platforms for tokenized securities. In this environment, differentiation often comes from:
– The depth of institutional partnerships.
– The range and scale of assets already managed on‑chain.
– The ability to work comfortably under multiple regulatory regimes.
With more than $4 billion of on‑chain assets and products linked to global names in asset management, Securitize has already carved out a leading position. Strengthening the board with figures like Sabharwal may help the company maintain that edge as new entrants arrive and as regulators pay closer attention to who is trusted with tokenized representations of mainstream financial products.
Looking ahead
Sabharwal’s appointment, combined with the planned public listing, underlines that Securitize is no longer positioning itself as a niche crypto startup. Instead, it is presenting itself as a long‑term infrastructure provider for a financial system where on‑chain and off‑chain assets coexist.
As tokenization moves further into the financial mainstream, the companies that thrive are likely to be those that blend robust technology with deep regulatory understanding, disciplined governance, and the ability to operate across jurisdictions and market cycles. Securitize’s latest board addition suggests it is betting that this combination – rather than pure technological novelty – will define the winners in the next chapter of digital finance.