Securitize, a BlackRock‑backed firm that helps public companies place securities on blockchain platforms, placed a full‑page advertisement in the printed edition of The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The ad was designed to counter a recent anti‑tokenization campaign and to outline the perceived benefits of “tokenization done right,” according to the company’s CEO and co‑founder Carlos Domingo.

Why Securitize Is Promoting Tokenization

The WSJ advertisement stresses that tokenized shares must be backed one‑for‑one by actual shares, retain voting and dividend rights, and be traded only on venues regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Securitize argues that this structure can broaden the investor base, extend trading hours, increase liquidity, and foster more direct engagement between shareholders and issuers. The company’s messaging positions tokenization as a compliance‑focused bridge between traditional equity markets and blockchain technology.

Backlash and the Anti‑Tokenization Campaign

The ad directly responds to a full‑page anti‑tokenization advertisement that ran in the WSJ on Oct. 24. Funded by the Common Sense Leadership Fund, the earlier ad urged CEOs of public companies to reject listing their shares on tokenized securities venues (TSVs) that operate under the SEC’s innovation exemption. It warned that CEOs could face liability if tokenized offerings malfunctioned. Domingo called those concerns “misleading,” saying they do not apply to tokenization conducted under U.S. securities law and on regulated platforms.

Corporate Response to the New Tokenized Venue

The anti‑tokenization campaign targeted 63 publicly traded firms for participation in a new TSV operated by OKXICE, a joint venture between cryptocurrency exchange OKX and NYSE owner Intercontinental Exchange. To date, 38 companies—including Microsoft, Alphabet, Intel, Oracle, IBM, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, McDonald’s, Walmart and Eli Lilly—have opted out of the platform, according to the WSJ report. The high rate of opt‑outs highlights ongoing skepticism among large corporates despite Securitize’s outreach.

What to Watch Next

Industry observers will monitor whether Securitize’s WSJ push can sway additional issuers to join regulated tokenized venues, and how the SEC may further clarify compliance requirements for tokenized securities. The next steps for OKXICE and the broader TSV ecosystem will likely hinge on the balance between regulatory clarity and corporate appetite for blockchain‑based equity offerings.