New The Investigation — How Tokensoft survived two years under SEC scrutiny Read →
Engineer · Founder · Builder

Mason
Borda.

A decade building compliant financial infrastructure on the blockchain. Inventor of ERC-1404. Founder of Tokensoft — the platform behind the first SEC-registered security token IPO in history, powering over $1 billion in token offerings across 100+ projects worldwide.

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Work
Tokensoft
The leading platform for compliant security token issuance. Powered over $1 billion in offerings across 100+ projects in 50+ countries. Behind the first SEC-registered security token IPO in history. Invented ERC-1404 — the token standard for SEC-compliant blockchain securities. Zero security breaches or regulatory enforcement actions.
Founded 2017
Wrapped
Created wrapped.com — a joint initiative with Anchorage to bring major cryptocurrencies to Ethereum DeFi with institutional-grade custody. Launched Wrapped Zcash (wZEC) as the platform's first asset, followed by wXRP, wBTC, wETH and more. Covered by CoinDesk, Forbes, Nasdaq, and Decrypt.
wrapped.com
Knox Wallet
The first cold storage custody solution purpose-built for registered and exempt securities. A mobile-first, multi-signature self-custody wallet designed specifically to meet the compliance requirements of digital securities — a first for the industry.
First of its kind · 2019
BitGo
Early engineer at BitGo (2013–2017). Built the first commercially viable Ethereum custody solution. Co-created Ether.li — the first Ethereum multi-signature web wallet. Also architected custody infrastructure for the Royal Mint of England's blockchain gold project.
2013 – 2017
Payroll Integrations
Co-founded in 2014. Payroll data infrastructure now serving clients representing 14% of the U.S. 401(k) market.
Co-founded 2014
Writing
The Masonic
"I know too much about regulations and the blockchain. Follow along to learn more."
themasonic.substack.com →
Background
2008
Boeing & Space Systems/Loral
Electrical engineer. Worked on aerospace systems after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (BS) and Santa Clara University (MS, Electrical Engineering).
2013
BitGo — First Ethereum Custody
Entered crypto. Built the first commercially viable Ethereum custody solution. Co-created Ether.li — the first Ethereum multi-signature web wallet — with Ben Chan and Barath Chandrashekar. Also architected custody infrastructure for the Royal Mint of England's blockchain project.
2016
Bought a Tesla with Bitcoin
Pre-ordered a Tesla Model 3 using Bitcoin via Shakepay — paying 2.41 BTC (~$1,000 at the time) for the reservation. Covered by Reuters, CNBC, CNET, and others as one of the earliest real-world Bitcoin purchases of its kind.
2014
Co-founded Payroll Integrations
Co-founded Payroll Integrations, which today serves clients representing 14% of the U.S. 401(k) market.
2017
Founded Tokensoft
Founded Tokensoft the week the SEC issued its first blockchain securities guidance. First customers launched September 9, 2017 — the same day as incorporation. Invented ERC-1404, the token standard for SEC-compliant blockchain securities.
2019
SEC Transfer Agent Registration
Tokensoft secured SEC registration as a transfer agent through subsidiary DTAC LLC — building toward the vision of an "automated investment bank" on the blockchain. Launched Knox Wallet, the first cold storage custody solution built specifically for registered and exempt securities. Partnerships with Coinbase Custody, Anchorage, tZERO, and SEBA Bank.
2020
Historic Firsts — ArCoin & INX IPO
Led the first Ethereum-native investment fund registered under the '40 Act with the SEC (ArCoin). Led the first SEC-registered security token IPO in history (INX, ~$85M raised on Ethereum). Featured in CoinDesk and Forbes.
2021
Created wrapped.com
Co-created wrapped.com with Anchorage — launching Wrapped Zcash (wZEC) as the first asset on the platform, bringing major cryptocurrencies to Ethereum DeFi with institutional-grade custody. Followed by wXRP, wBTC, wETH, and cross-chain expansion to Kadena and beyond.
Press
Forbes · August 2020
Anchorage Is Blurring The Lines Between Crypto And Wall Street
"In traditional brokerage accounts, when a share is purchased by an investor, that share is placed into custody. This user experience has eluded the blockchain space until today."
Read on Forbes →
CoinDesk · July 2020
605 Days Later: How ArCoins Got the SEC Go-Ahead as an Ethereum-Traded Treasurys Fund
Mason Borda and Tokensoft architected the first Ethereum blockchain-native investment fund to receive SEC approval — a 605-day campaign that required direct engagement with regulators and the development of new compliance infrastructure from scratch.
Read on CoinDesk →
CoinDesk · December 2019
TokenSoft Scores Transfer Agent Registration to Build 'Automated Investment Bank'
"We're building all the things you need for an automated investment bank. DTAC can help companies go straight to IPO by managing shares on the blockchain. We do have all the pieces necessary."
Read on CoinDesk →
CoinDesk · September 2020
How to Watch INX's IPO in Real Time on the Ethereum Blockchain
Tokensoft provided the infrastructure for the first-ever SEC-registered security token IPO — raising over $85M on the Ethereum blockchain in a landmark moment for regulated digital assets.
Read on CoinDesk →
Reuters · February 2021
Can you buy a Tesla with bitcoin? How the payments might work
"One digital currency enthusiast, Mason Borda, told Reuters he bought a Tesla Model 3 in 2016 using bitcoin through a company called Shakepay." Also covered by CNBC, CNET, and Rolling Stone India as one of the earliest real-world Bitcoin purchases on record.
Read on Reuters →
CNBC · December 2017
Here's how you can — and can't — spend bitcoin
CNBC cited Mason Borda, CEO of TokenSoft, as one of the first people to purchase a Tesla Model 3 with Bitcoin — a story that became emblematic of Bitcoin's real-world utility.
Read on CNBC →
PR Newswire · January 2019
Announcing Knox Custody for Digital Securities
Tokensoft launched the first cold storage custody solution purpose-built for digital securities — Knox Wallet — a mobile-first, multi-signature self-custody product designed to meet the compliance requirements of registered and exempt securities. A first for the industry.
Read on PR Newswire →
CoinDesk · October 2020
Privacy Coin Zcash Makes Its Ethereum 'Wrapped' Debut with Tokensoft and Anchorage
"WZEC is the first asset to be launched by 'Wrapped,' a partnership between Ethereum tokenizers Tokensoft and qualified custodian Anchorage." Also covered by Forbes, Nasdaq, Decrypt, and Crypto Briefing.
Read on CoinDesk →
CoinDesk · October 2021
XRP Gets Wrapped by Tokensoft for Ethereum DeFi Debut
Tokensoft launched Wrapped XRP (wXRP), bringing XRP liquidity to Ethereum DeFi via a multi-custodial approach in partnership with Hex Trust.
Read on CoinDesk →
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Thoughts on Finance, Infrastructure & Crypto

Occasional writing on tokenization, AI infrastructure, and what's actually happening at the frontier of financial technology.