Sonic Labs Targets Wall Street: ETF Proposal and $150M U.S. Initiative Indicate DeFi’s Most Audacious Step to Date
Sonic Labs, recognized as one of DeFi’s most dynamic growth narratives, has just placed a substantial $150M wager on Wall Street. In its inaugural governance initiative, the Sonic crypto network is requesting approval to establish Sonic USA, a Delaware-registered organization designed to integrate decentralized liquidity into the core of U.S. capital markets.
The proposal details three main components: a $50M investment in a regulated exchange-traded product (ETP/ETF), a $100M NASDAQ private investment in public equity (PIPE), and the issuance of 150M S tokens to fund the new entity. Custody will be managed through BitGo, ensuring adherence to U.S. institutional standards.
The DeFi-to-Wall Street Strategy: Sonic Labs Joins The Initiative
The ETF aspect takes center stage. Sonic is effectively aiming to position itself alongside BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale in the competition for crypto exchange-traded products.
In contrast to single-asset spot BTC or Ethereum ETFs, Sonic is proposing an ecosystem ETF, a structured instrument designed to directly track the S economy.
If regulators grant approval, it would establish the first DeFi-native ETF with governance linked back to coin holders.
The PIPE allocation indicates an even more ambitious goal: a pathway to NASDAQ listing. Although still in the exploratory phase, a PIPE provides Sonic with access to traditional equity investors who have typically shied away from tokens but are open to regulated capital raises.
This dual approach implies Sonic is gearing up to secure capital and formalize its governance framework in the perception of public markets.
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Why Corporate Crypto Treasuries Are Paying Attention
The timing is crucial. Corporate treasurers across the United States are facing growing pressure from organizations like the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to diversify reserves into Bitcoin or digital assets.
While companies such as Amazon and Microsoft have been reluctant to make direct allocations, examples like MicroStrategy’s $6.8Bn BTC investment and Critical Metals Corp’s $500M convertible note for Bitcoin acquisitions, along with recent altcoin treasury strategies by entities like Sharplink Gaming have altered the narrative.
For treasurers, the attractiveness of a Sonic ETF is clear: regulated, liquid exposure to crypto growth without the complexity of custody or crypto token management.
This move could empower cautious corporate entities, those very players who have previously viewed direct coin purchases as “too volatile,” to allocate through established ETF formats.
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Sonic Labs’ Ambitions as a Barometer for DeFi Governance
The support from the community has been phenomenal, with over 99.9% of votes cast in favor. However, the governance vote serves as more than just a procedural endorsement.
It acts as a referendum on whether decentralized communities are prepared to adhere to Wall Street’s regulations, compliance protocols, filings, and fiduciary responsibilities, all while maintaining a decentralized identity.
The successful growth of Sonic would redefine the boundaries between DeFi and TradFi and establish a precedent.
A DeFi-native ETF trading on NASDAQ would legitimize protocols as investable entities, rather than merely speculative assets.
As one investor put it, “If Sonic can achieve this, it ceases to be just another crypto token and transforms into a financial institution.”
The voting concludes on August 31, yet regardless of the result, this action marks a new phase: Decentralized finance is past the point of merely skirting the borders of Wall Street; it’s actively pushing through the entryway.
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The post Sonic Labs Aims Wall Street: ETF Bid and $150M U.S. Push Signal DeFi’s Boldest Move Yet appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
