Former Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein joins Securitize

Blockchain firm Securitize has appointed Michael Sonnenshein as Chief Operating Officer, a key role alongside CEO and co-founder Carlos Domingo.

Former Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein will begin his new role at asset tokenization specialist Securitize starting December 9, according to a press release published December 12.

Sonnenshein noted that the decision to join Securitize comes at a time when demand for tokenization is increasing from both institutional investors and retail consumers. It aims to eliminate capital market inefficiencies and standardize investor interaction with tokenized products on decentralized networks.

Securitize has delivered $1 billion in on-chain tokenized assets by bringing products like BlackRock’s BUIDL coin market to Ethereum and supporting synthetic dollar protocols like Ethena Labs.

There is huge demand for tokenization and I am excited to join Securitize at such an important moment for the company and the industry. Carlos and Securitize’s incredible team have demonstrated incredible leadership in driving the growth of tokenization projects.

Michael Sonnenshein is Securitize’s new COO

NEW: Michael Sonnenshein joins Securitize as COO

We are excited to welcome Michael Sonnenshein, former CEO of Grayscale Investments, as Securitize’s new Chief Operating Officer. 🎉@SonnensheinThe arrival of Securitize strengthens Securitize’s leading position in real-world assets… pic.twitter.com/HjeYIARRE0

— Securitize (@Securitize) December 12, 2024

Sonnenshein joined Grayscale in 2014 and became CEO in 2021. During his tenure, he guided the asset manager through complex regulatory environments, leading crypto product fund issuance in several jurisdictions. Before leaving Grayscale, he led significant legal and industry efforts to counter the SEC’s hostile stance toward digital assets.

Michael Sonneshein led Grayscale to a landmark court victory against the Securities and Exchange Commission, paving the way for the now $113 billion Wall Street asset class. Grayscale’s former boss resigned in May 2024, a few months after the US SEC finally approved spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds in January.

Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo noted that Sonnenshein anticipates the firm will strengthen its position as a real-world asset tokenization leader.

Michael is a pioneer whose strategic vision and ability to navigate complex regulatory environments helped pave the way for the establishment of digital assets as a mainstream investment class.

Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize