Forward Industries Enables First SEC-Registered Equity Integration with DeFi on Solana Blockchain

Forward Industries announced that its SEC-registered shares are now accessible on the Solana blockchain through Superstate's Opening Bell platform. This development represents the first instance where a public company's equity can be utilized directly within decentralized finance ecosystems. The integration enables eligible non-U.S. shareholders to tokenize their FWDI shares and use them as collateral on Kamino, a prominent Solana-based lending protocol.

The company emphasized that this approach differs fundamentally from synthetic tokenized stock models by directly tokenizing Forward's Class A Common Stock through Superstate, which operates as a registered SEC transfer agent. This distinction ensures regulatory compliance while bridging traditional equity markets with decentralized finance infrastructure. Investors can borrow stablecoins against their equity positions while maintaining exposure to FWDI stock performance, with real-time price feeds provided by Pyth network.

Forward Industries described the collaboration as establishing a foundation for expanded onchain equity functionality as regulatory guidance continues to evolve. Existing shareholders now have the option to hold their shares on the Solana blockchain via Superstate's platform, potentially increasing accessibility and liquidity for international investors. The company's Solana treasury strategy, initiated in September 2025 and detailed at sol.forwardindustries.com, focuses on acquiring SOL and increasing SOL-per-share through specialized strategies managed with support from industry partners including Galaxy Digital, Jump Crypto, and Multicoin Capital.

This integration marks a significant milestone in the convergence of traditional securities markets and decentralized finance. By enabling SEC-registered equity to function within DeFi protocols, Forward Industries is pioneering a model that could potentially reshape how public company shares are utilized, traded, and leveraged across financial ecosystems. The ability to use tokenized equity as collateral while maintaining underlying stock exposure creates new financial utility for shareholders, particularly those in international markets seeking additional liquidity options.

The development carries implications for both the traditional securities industry and the growing decentralized finance sector. For traditional investors, it represents a bridge to emerging blockchain-based financial services while maintaining regulatory safeguards. For the DeFi industry, it demonstrates how regulated assets can be integrated into decentralized protocols, potentially paving the way for broader institutional adoption. As regulatory frameworks continue to develop around digital assets and blockchain technology, this integration provides a working model of how traditional securities can interact with decentralized financial infrastructure while maintaining compliance with existing securities regulations.

Forward Industries' approach, utilizing Superstate's registered transfer agent status and Solana's blockchain infrastructure, suggests a pathway for other public companies to explore similar integrations. The company's existing Solana treasury strategy indicates a broader commitment to blockchain technology adoption beyond the equity tokenization initiative. This announcement comes as both traditional financial institutions and blockchain-native companies explore ways to bridge the gap between regulated securities markets and decentralized financial applications, with Forward Industries positioning itself at the forefront of this convergence through practical implementation rather than theoretical exploration.