Sonic Labs has passed a significant governance proposal to expand its operations into the U.S. capital markets. The decision, announced on August 31, was approved with 99.99% support from the community, marking one of the most decisive votes in the project’s history. The proposal includes a $150 million token issuance to finance a series of strategic moves, including the launch of a U.S.-listed exchange-traded product (ETP/ETF), a NASDAQ private investment in public equity (PIPE) vehicle, and the establishment of Sonic USA LLC, a Delaware-based subsidiary operating out of a New York office [1].
The governance vote, which ran from August 20 to August 31, saw participation exceeding 860 million S tokens, surpassing the required quorum of 700 million. This overwhelming support underscores strong community alignment with the project’s vision to integrate more closely with traditional financial infrastructure. The approved allocation includes $50 million for the ETP/ETF, $100 million for the NASDAQ PIPE, and a further 150 million tokens to fund the launch of Sonic USA LLC [1]. The subsidiary will be led by a U.S.-based CEO and a dedicated capital markets and business development team, signaling Sonic Labs’ commitment to institutional adoption and regulatory compliance.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to address structural limitations that have historically constrained the project’s growth. As a continuation of Fantom, Sonic Labs has operated with a token supply model where only 3% of the total token supply was retained in the treasury. This limited the project’s ability to pursue capital market opportunities, secure partnerships, or facilitate traditional listings. The new governance framework introduces stronger deflationary mechanisms, including increased token burns from network gas fees, which aim to enhance token scarcity and stabilize supply dynamics [1].
The U.S. expansion is expected to facilitate Sonic’s integration with traditional finance through partnerships with top-tier ETF providers and BitGo for custody solutions. These moves are designed to create a regulated investment vehicle that can attract institutional interest while maintaining the decentralized nature of the blockchain. Additionally, the NASDAQ PIPE allocation is intended to align Sonic with established, publicly traded companies that share long-term confidence in the project’s trajectory [1].
Analysts have noted that Sonic Labs’ expansion into U.S. capital markets represents a significant milestone in the evolution of decentralized finance (DeFi) toward broader financial system integration. By creating structured financial products and institutional partnerships, Sonic is positioning itself to bridge the gap between traditional and decentralized finance. This shift could accelerate the adoption of blockchain-based assets in mainstream portfolios and increase the accessibility of DeFi to institutional investors [1].
The establishment of Sonic USA is expected to have wide-ranging implications for the project’s growth and regulatory alignment. It is anticipated that the subsidiary will enhance the project’s visibility in the U.S. market and foster greater engagement with American regulators, investors, and financial institutions. The move also reflects a broader trend in the crypto industry, where projects are increasingly adopting formal corporate structures and governance frameworks to meet the demands of traditional finance [1].
Source: [1] Sonic Labs passes proposal to expand to U.S. capital markets (https://crypto.news/sonic-labs-passes-proposal-u-s-capital-markets-2025/)