Hawkeye Digital Partners with Securitize to Tokenize Common Stock on Ethereum

Hawkeye Digital is partnering with Securitize to tokenize its common stock on the Ethereum blockchain, marking a significant shift for OTC-traded companies. By moving traditional equity into a digital format, the firm aims to provide near real-time settlement and transparent onchain ownership, offering a blueprint for how public companies might modernize their capital market infrastructure.

What was announced

Hawkeye Digital (OTC: HWKE) and Securitize Corp. (NYSE: SECZ) will bring the company's common stock to the Ethereum network. Unlike synthetic or wrapped tokens, these are actual HWKE shares carrying full voting and dividend rights. The initiative is expected to launch in 2027. Shareholders will have the option to move shares from brokerage accounts into direct registration with a transfer agent, then convert them to tokenized form via Securitize’s platform. This process requires identity verification and anti-money-laundering checks. Tokenized holdings will be recorded onchain and reconciled with the official shareholder register, ensuring transparency. Transfers between eligible holders can settle in near real-time, bypassing traditional settlement cycles. Participation is optional; shares can remain in traditional brokerage accounts or be converted back to book-entry form. Hawkeye’s common stock will continue trading on the OTC Markets under the HWKE ticker. The partnership positions Hawkeye as an early adopter of issuer-sponsored tokenization, a model Securitize has been developing as a digital transfer agent. By tokenizing at the source, the company maintains its official register while enabling onchain functionality for eligible investors.

"Tokenization is one of the most important shifts in capital markets infrastructure in decades, and we believe it will become standard for public companies. We’d rather help shape that future than wait for it. Securitize has been instrumental in proving that tokenization works at institutional scale, and its work with some of the world’s largest asset managers has set the benchmark for the industry,"

David Wachsman, President of Hawkeye

The companies involved

Hawkeye Digital, Inc. is a publicly traded private equity incubator and merchant banking platform. Operating in what it describes as the "frontier economy," the firm focuses on investing in and advising businesses at the leading edge of market shifts. Its leadership includes Chairman Martin Sumichrast and President David Wachsman. Securitize is a prominent player in the digital assets space, serving as a regulated platform for tokenizing real-world assets. The company holds a significant position in the market as the New York Stock Exchange’s first digital transfer agent. Securitize has established a track record of working with major institutional asset managers to bring traditional financial products onto blockchain infrastructure. Led by COO Billy Miller, the firm provides the regulated environment necessary for the issuance and transfer of tokenized securities. Hawkeye operates on the OTC Markets under the ticker HWKE, while Securitize Corp. is listed on the NYSE under the ticker SECZ, reflecting the growing intersection between traditional public markets and decentralized technology.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has followed Securitize’s aggressive expansion into institutional tokenization. In late 2026, the firm significantly broadened its reach with Securitize Expands Onchain U.S. Stock Offering to 25 Equities Including Disney and Uber. The company has also focused on liquidity and infrastructure, recently reporting that Anchorage Digital and Securitize Partner to Enable Direct Stablecoin Minting for Institutions. Beyond the U.S. market, Securitize has pursued global opportunities, such as when KB Securities Taps Securitize and Optimism for Institutional Tokenization in South Korea. Additionally, the firm has explored niche equity markets, as seen when Securitize and Socios.com Partner to Bring Tokenized Sports Team Equity Onchain.

What this means

This move signals that tokenization is no longer reserved for private funds; it is moving directly into the plumbing of public equities. By tokenizing at the source rather than using synthetic wrappers, Hawkeye and Securitize are challenging the traditional settlement cycles that have long defined stock markets. This puts pressure on traditional transfer agents and clearinghouses to justify their legacy timelines. The 2027 timeline suggests that while the technology is ready, the operational hurdles for public companies remain significant. The industry must now watch whether other OTC-listed firms follow suit to gain the transparency and speed of onchain settlement.