Ondo Finance acquires SEC-registered broker-dealer, eyes tokenized securities

DeFi protocol Ondo Finance has just acquired Oasis Pro, a heavyweight in the real-world assets (RWAs) space, in a power move to dominate the tokenized security scene in the US.

Oasis Pro isn't just any player—it's a broker-dealer, Alternative Trading System (ATS), and Transfer Agent (TA) with the SEC's stamp of approval. This acquisition? A golden ticket for Ondo into the regulated tokenized securities market.

Oasis Pro has been flexing its FINRA membership since 2020 and even sits on the Crypto Working Group. Tokenized securities are the next big crypto craze, with giants like Kraken and Robinhood already serving them up—but only outside the US. Ondo's play? Bring the party stateside.

This acquisition drops hot on the heels of Ondo launching the Ondo Catalyst fund with Pantera Capital, ready to drop $250M into RWA projects. According to Ondo's Chief Strategy Officer, Ian De Bode, it's all about staying ahead in the tokenization 'arms race'.

Tokenization isn't just gaining traction—it's exploding, with BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and others already in the game. Onchain financial assets? They're nearing a cool $25B.

And with regulators warming up to crypto under a potential second Trump term, the stage is set. Even SEC Chair Paul Atkins is calling tokenization an 'innovation' and promising to ditch the 'regulation through enforcement' playbook of the Gensler era.