Securitize’s Strategic Masterstroke: Former Nasdaq ETF Head Joins to Supercharge Tokenization Growth

In a move signaling the accelerating institutional embrace of blockchain-based finance, security token platform Securitize has executed a strategic masterstroke by appointing Giang Bui, the former head of Nasdaq’s equities and exchange-traded products division, as its new Vice President and Head of Issuer Growth. This pivotal hire, announced from the company’s San Francisco headquarters in April 2025, directly connects traditional capital market expertise with the burgeoning world of compliant digital assets. Bui will spearhead the expansion of issuer partnerships and the launch of regulated tokenized products, a critical growth vector for the firm as it concurrently pursues an initial public offering.

Securitize’s Strategic Hire from Nasdaq

Giang Bui brings nearly a decade of elite exchange experience to Securitize, a period during which she led U.S. equities and ETF strategy for one of the world’s premier financial marketplaces. Her tenure at Nasdaq coincided with a transformative era for digital assets, most notably including the landmark approval and listing of spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024. Industry analysts widely acknowledge that Bui played a significant operational and strategic role in that groundbreaking process, which effectively bridged cryptocurrency with regulated securities markets. Consequently, her deep understanding of exchange-traded product mechanics, regulatory compliance, and issuer relations is now directly applicable to the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs).

Tokenization, the process of converting rights to an asset into a digital token on a blockchain, is rapidly evolving from a niche concept to a mainstream financial practice. Major institutions now recognize its potential for enhancing liquidity, reducing settlement times, and enabling fractional ownership of everything from private equity and real estate to treasury funds. Securitize, as a registered transfer agent with the SEC, operates at the nexus of this shift, providing the necessary regulatory and technological infrastructure.

The Expanding Tokenization Ecosystem

Bui’s appointment is not occurring in a vacuum. Instead, it reflects Securitize’s established position within a powerful consortium of traditional finance titans. The platform is already actively collaborating on tokenization initiatives with firms including Apollo, BlackRock, KKR, and BNY Mellon. These partnerships represent a formidable cross-section of asset management, private equity, and custodial banking. For instance, Securitize has worked with KKR to tokenize a portion of a healthcare fund, providing qualified investors with blockchain-based access.

The following table outlines the core advantages driving institutional adoption of tokenization, which Bui is now tasked to scale:

Furthermore, the firm’s parallel pursuit of an IPO underscores its ambition to become a publicly-traded leader in the digital asset securities space. This dual strategy of high-profile hiring and public market preparation demonstrates a mature, growth-oriented corporate trajectory.

Expert Analysis on a Watershed Moment

Market observers view this hire as a watershed moment for the digital asset industry. “The recruitment of a senior Nasdaq ETF executive by a security token platform is a powerful signal,” notes financial technology analyst, Dr. Lena Torres. “It represents a clear talent migration from the heart of traditional finance to its blockchain-native future. Bui’s expertise in navigating the SEC’s rigorous ETF approval process is directly transferable to gaining regulatory clarity for novel tokenized products.”

This perspective is bolstered by the historical pattern of financial innovation. Often, pivotal advancements are driven by individuals who understand both the legacy system and the disruptive technology. Bui’s career arc—from a global exchange giant to a fintech pioneer—mirrors this pattern. Her mandate will likely focus on:

• Onboarding New Issuers: Expanding beyond current blue-chip partners to include a wider array of asset managers and corporations.
• Product Innovation: Designing and launching new regulatory-compliant tokenized securities that meet market demand.
• Regulatory Dialogue: Leveraging her experience to help shape constructive conversations with regulators like the SEC.
• Market Education: Assisting traditional issuers in understanding the operational and strategic benefits of tokenization.

The broader context is a financial landscape increasingly comfortable with digital asset infrastructure. The successful launch and massive inflows into spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have paved a regulatory and investor mindset pathway. Now, the focus is shifting toward tokenizing a much wider universe of assets, a market estimated by Boston Consulting Group to reach $16 trillion by 2030.

Conclusion

Securitize’s appointment of former Nasdaq ETF head Giang Bui as Vice President and Head of Issuer Growth is a decisive strategic move. It injects deep capital markets expertise into a leading digital asset securities platform at a pivotal time. By leveraging Bui’s proven track record with exchange-traded products and regulatory processes, Securitize is powerfully positioned to accelerate the adoption of tokenized real-world assets among institutional issuers. This hire not only strengthens the firm’s path toward its own IPO but also serves as a compelling indicator of the accelerating convergence between traditional finance and blockchain technology. The future of asset management is being built today, and leadership talent is decisively migrating to where that future is being coded.

FAQs

Q1: What is Giang Bui’s primary role at Securitize?
Giang Bui will serve as Securitize’s Vice President and Head of Issuer Growth. In this role, she will lead the expansion of the company’s partnerships with asset issuers and oversee the launch of new regulatory-compliant, tokenized financial products.

Q2: Why is her background at Nasdaq significant for Securitize?
Her nearly ten-year tenure at Nasdaq, where she led U.S. equities and ETF strategy, provides critical expertise in regulated securities markets, exchange-traded product development, and navigating complex financial regulations. This experience is directly applicable to building compliant digital asset securities.

Q3: What is asset tokenization?
Asset tokenization is the process of converting the ownership rights of a physical or financial asset (like real estate, private equity, or bonds) into a digital token on a blockchain. These tokens can represent full or fractional ownership, enabling greater liquidity and operational efficiency.

Q4: Which major financial firms is Securitize currently working with?
Securitize has announced tokenization collaborations with several major institutions, including asset managers Apollo, BlackRock, and KKR, as well as global custodian bank BNY Mellon.

Q5: What does Securitize’s pursuit of an IPO indicate?
Securitize’s plan for an initial public offering (IPO) signals its transition toward becoming a mature, publicly-traded company. It reflects confidence in its business model and a desire to access public capital markets to fuel further growth in the digital asset securities sector.