- Forward Industries, a Solana digital asset treasury company, recently announced that the company’s shares are now live on the Solana blockchain through Superstate’s Opening Bell platform.
- This move is important for the industry, marking the first time that a regulated public equity is able to be used as collateral within a live decentralized finance (“DeFi”) market.
- The partnership shows how companies can extend the utility and life of their shares beyond traditional exchanges.
Forward Industries (NASDAQ: FWDI), a company that is building and managing a large-scale Solana (“SOL”) treasury, recently announced that their SEC-registered shares are now live on the Solana blockchain through Superstate’s Opening Bell platform (https://ibn.fm/JIh1m).
This integration allows ex-US holders of the company’s tokenized FWDI shares to post their equity as collateral on Kamino, which is one of Solana’s leading lending protocols. Eligible investors are able to borrow stablecoins against tokenized shares, which gains them access to onchain liquidity while still being exposed to the equity position.
It’s the first time that a regulated public equity is able to be used as collateral within a live DeFi market. While other tokenized stock products often rely on synthetic structures, Opening Bell allows for the direct tokenization of SEC-registered shares. The move shows how public companies can boost the utility and extend the life of their stock beyond exchanges, enabling programmable ownership that connects directly to the digital-asset economy.
Chairman of Forward Industries, Kyle Samani, said that “This milestone demonstrates the next evolution of tokenized markets where real equity can function natively within DeFi,” adding that “By enabling FWDI stock to serve as collateral on Solana, we’re unlocking a tangible bridge between traditional markets and the programmable financial systems that define the digital economy.”
Robert Leshner, CEO of Superstate, echoes these statements: “Our announcement today with Forward brings a whole new level of transformation for public markets,” and adds that “Superstate has now made it possible to unlock the full potential of DeFi for real public equity onchain.”
Those who currently hold FWDI shares are able to hold these shares on Solana by creating an account with Superstate, and following the provided guidance and instructions to transfer the shares from a brokerage account to an allowlisted Solana wallet.
About Forward Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: FWDI)
Forward Industries is a Solana treasury company that’s backed by some of the most influential investors in the space. The company seeks to create long-term shareholder value by actively participating in the Solana ecosystem, through not only acquiring SOL, but also strategically deploying assets through various on-chain opportunities like staking and lending.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.forwardindustries.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FWDI are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FWDI
