Former Grayscale CEO Joins Tokenization Platform Securitize

Tokenization platform Securitize has appointed Michael Sonnenshein, the former CEO of Grayscale Investments, as its new executive leader.

Sonnenshein started his new role as chief operating officer on Monday. Securitize specializes in leveraging blockchain technology to create tokens that represent real-world assets.

The firm claims it has surpassed $1 billion in tokenized real-world assets on-chain, establishing itself as a leader in this rapidly growing sector.

Through partnerships with prominent asset managers like BlackRock Inc., Hamilton Lane, and KKR, Securitize said it has brought tokenized funds to market.

“We look forward to benefiting from his [Sonnenshein] leadership, experience, and commercial acumen to scale our operations and empower investors to access the full potential of tokenized real-world assets,” said Carlos Domingo, CEO and co-founder of Securitize.

Sonnenshein posted on social media platform X:

As I reflect on my nearly 11 years in crypto, I am grateful for the connections and friendships I’ve made, and proud of the industry growth we’ve championed and fostered together.

Today, I’m excited to share that for the next leg of my crypto journey, I will be working to…

— Sonnenshein (@Sonnenshein) December 12, 2024

Grayscale Tenure

Sonnenshein stepped down from Grayscale in May after joining the team in 2014 and serving as CEO since 2021. Sonnenshein was replaced by former Goldman Sachs executive Peter Mintzberg in August.

During his time at Grayscale, Sonnenshein managed the firm’s transformation into the largest crypto asset manager, overseeing tens of billions of dollars in assets under management.

Under his leadership, Grayscale expanded its portfolio to over 20 funds, including its groundbreaking efforts to secure SEC approval for U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.