Securitize and Computershare announced a landmark partnership on April 29, 2026, allowing U.S. public issuers to issue equity directly on a blockchain through a new instrument called Issuer-Sponsored Tokens (ISTs). The collaboration brings tokenization to the mainstream stock market by leveraging Computershare's status as the world's largest transfer agent, serving over 25,000 companies globally.
What Are ISTs and How Are They Different?
ISTs are not derivative tokens backed by underlying shares; they represent direct equity ownership in token form. Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, explained: “By creating direct equity ownership in token form without altering the underlying equity itself, ISTs provide a legal and operational bridge between traditional securities and blockchain.” This means holders of ISTs have the same legal status as ordinary shareholders, including rights to dividends, voting, and other corporate actions.
Unlike previous tokenization efforts that relied on wrappers or synthetic structures, ISTs are issued as part of the company's capital structure alongside traditional Direct Registration System (DRS) holdings. This eliminates the legal ambiguity that has plagued earlier tokenized securities.
Computershare's Role: The Backbone of Corporate Actions
Computershare, listed on the ASX under ticker CPU and operating since 1978, employs over 11,000 people. Its issuer services arm will integrate IST processing into existing shareholder management workflows. Ann Bowering, CEO of Issuer Services at Computershare North America, stated: “We designed ISTs to operate within the existing regulatory environment, maintaining independence and oversight expected from a transfer agent.”
The integration means that corporate actions such as dividend payments, stock splits, and mergers will run seamlessly across both tokenized and traditional holdings from a single infrastructure. Issuers retain full control over their capital structure while offering shareholders a new option for holding securities in a self-custody wallet.
Securitize: A Compliant Powerhouse with $4B+ AUM
As of April 2026, Securitize manages over $4 billion in assets under management (AUM). The company is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), operates an Alternative Trading System (ATS), is a registered transfer agent, and is authorized under the EU DLT Pilot Regime — making it the only firm authorized to operate regulated digital securities infrastructure in both the U.S. and the European Union.
Earlier this year, Securitize announced a proposed business combination with Cantor Equity Partners II, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPT), which remains pending. The firm was also named to the 2026 Forbes Top 50 Fintech list. Securitize has already partnered with asset management giants including Apollo, BlackRock, BNY, Hamilton Lane, KKR, and VanEck for tokenized fund offerings.
Market Implications: Self-Custody and Interoperability
The partnership does not require issuers to replace existing share structures. Companies can add ISTs alongside shares already held in the DRS, giving shareholders a choice rather than forcing conversion. Shareholders who opt for ISTs can consolidate digital holdings in a self-custody wallet while maintaining direct communication with issuers regarding dividends and other corporate actions.
Interoperability between ISTs and broader market infrastructure is expected to develop over time as more issuers and platforms adopt the standard. Analysts view this as a pivotal step toward mainstream tokenization, potentially reducing issuance costs, settlement times, and intermediaries for public securities.