Securitize COO Michael Sonnenshein believes the U.S. crypto industry has entered a new era, as regulatory hostility gives way to collaboration. With lawsuits dropped and the SEC engaging businesses directly, the stage is set for tokenized assets to flourish.

A dramatic regulatory shift

From enforcement to engagement: U.S. regulators change tone on crypto

In a recent Bloomberg interview, Michael Sonnenshein pointed to a major shift in federal attitude toward crypto. Under the Biden administration, enforcement dominated the conversation. Today, the Trump administration is showing openness to innovation, appointing a crypto head at the White House and establishing an SEC task force that regularly meets with industry leaders.

Tokenization becomes a practical solution

More than hype: Tokenized RWAs offer real benefits

At Securitize, tokenization is proving its worth. The firm has brought $2.5 billion in real-world assets (RWAs) onto public blockchains like Ethereum and Polygon. These tokenized assets range from U.S. treasuries to public equities, delivering features like daily dividends, real-time liquidity, and 24/7 market access—advantages unavailable in traditional finance.

Institutional partnerships drive momentum

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BlackRock and Exodus pave way for tokenized finance

Sonnenshein highlighted Securitize’s partnership with BlackRock on the BUIDL tokenized treasury fund. This product allows real-time redemptions and use across DeFi platforms. Additionally, Securitize recently tokenized Exodus, a publicly traded company, demonstrating real institutional adoption of blockchain infrastructure.

Explosive growth in tokenized treasuries

500% growth rate signals surging demand

Tokenized treasuries are seeing unprecedented adoption, with growth surpassing 500% year-over-year. Sonnenshein expects this momentum to continue, especially as regulators and industry leaders collaborate to improve access and revisit outdated investor classifications.

The future depends on regulatory cooperation

Dialogue with the SEC is key to expanding tokenization

Looking ahead, Sonnenshein sees regulatory collaboration as essential to scaling tokenized markets. As the SEC transitions leadership, open communication will be critical for evolving RWA frameworks and modernizing accredited investor definitions.