Hanwha Group has become the largest shareholder in tokenization company Securitize, with its affiliates and investment vehicle having a combined stake of 9.6%, according to newly disclosed US regulatory filings.
Companies affiliated with Hanwha Group collectively own 15.69 million shares in Securitize, giving the South Korean conglomerate a 9.6% ownership stake, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This holding puts Hanwha ahead of Blockchain Capital, which owns about 6.0%, and Securitize co-founder and CEO Carlos Domingo, who owns 5.4%.
This disclosure provides a clearer picture of Hanwha’s investment strategy across blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and tokenization as Hanwha Group continues to expand its presence in Web3-related businesses.
Hanwha’s ownership spans multiple affiliated companies
The shares are not held by a single company, but are spread across multiple Hanwha companies.
A private equity fund managed by Hanwha Asset Management holds 5.9% of the securitized shares, according to SEC filings. H Foundation, a subsidiary of Hanwha Systems, holds an additional 3.1%, and Hanwha Investment Securities holds about 0.6%.
According to previous regulatory disclosures, H Foundation acquired a 5.2% interest in Securitize in 2021 as part of its efforts to strengthen its security token technology capabilities and expand into the North American and Asia Pacific markets.
The latest ownership numbers follow a recent investment round in which Hanwha Investment & Securities acquired additional shares. The company described the participation as a financial investment made through a pre-initial public offering funding round, rather than as part of a coordinated group strategy.
A spokesperson for Hanwha Investment & Securities told local media that each Hanwha affiliate evaluates and makes investments independently, adding that the company is not involved in investment decisions made by other group companies.
The spokesperson also said the company will decide whether to sell the stake after it becomes eligible for sale under SEC rules later this year, but remains open to leveraging its investments strategically in the areas of digital and real-world asset tokenization.
Investment expands across Web3 infrastructure
Along with its securitization position, Hanwha Investment & Securities has expanded its investments in several blockchain businesses this year.
According to local media, the company invested 10 billion won in blockchain research and data platform Xangle, 18 billion won in Web3 infrastructure company Kresus, and 30 billion won in Digital Asset, which operates the institutional blockchain network Canton Network.
Hanwha Investment & Securities is also increasing its exposure to South Korea’s digital asset market through Dunam, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Upbit.
The company invested an additional 597.8 billion won in Doonam, increasing its ownership to 9.84%. Hanwha acquired a 6.14% interest in Dunam in 2021 through an investment of 58.3 billion won.
In total, the company’s investment in Web3 and digital asset businesses this year will reach approximately 655.8 billion won.
These investments now span multiple layers of blockchain infrastructure. Xangle will provide blockchain data and research services, Kresus will focus on digital wallet and tokenization services, Digital Asset will operate institutional blockchain infrastructure through Canton Network, and Dunamu will provide cryptocurrency trading, custody and payment services. Securitize adds issuance, distribution, and lifecycle management of tokenized assets to its portfolio.
Securitize expands institutional tokenization business
Hanwha’s increased ownership comes as Securitize continues to expand its role in regulated tokenized securities.
Earlier this month, Securitize became the first publicly traded company to tokenize its common stock on the same day it began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company went public under the ticker SECZ after completing a business combination with Cantor Equity Partners II, while simultaneously issuing blockchain-based versions of the same common stock on the Solana and Avalanche networks.
According to Securitize, tokenized SECZ shares represent the same NYSE-listed stock rather than a separate type of security, giving eligible investors a blockchain-based representation of the company’s listed stocks.
The company also continues to build its institutional capital markets infrastructure.
Last week, Securitize announced a partnership with Cantor to bring blockchain infrastructure directly to initial public offerings and subsequent public offerings. Under the agreement, Cantor will provide equity capital markets and trading services, and Securitize will provide the infrastructure for the issuance, distribution, and servicing of tokenized securities.
Carlos Domingo previously said that companies do not have to choose between traditional capital markets and blockchain infrastructure, explaining that the partnership is a way to integrate tokenization into regulated public offerings.
Institutional adoption also continues through Securitize’s existing business. The company supports tokenized products from companies such as BlackRock, Apollo, BNY, Hamilton Lane, KKR, and VanEck. BlackRock’s tokenized US Treasury fund BUIDL is one of the largest tokenized funds in the market and uses Securitize as its tokenization platform and transfer agent.
Earlier this year, Securitize announced that its platform manages over $4 billion in on-chain assets and supports over 650 tokenized funds.
Separately, the company remains involved in an ongoing lawsuit with tokenization platform tZERO over claims of patent infringement. Securitize denies the allegations and has filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware seeking a declaration that its products do not infringe tZERO’s patents. The court has not ruled on either side’s claims.
