Forward Industries Launches Zero-Fee Solana Validator in Partnership with Galaxy and Firedancer

• Solana Validator with 0% Staking Fee
• Collaboration between Forward, Galaxy and DoubleZero
• Firedancer promises more speed and scalability

Forward Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: FORD) announced the launch of an institutional validator on the Solana network, developed in partnership with DoubleZero, Galaxy, and Jump Crypto. The new node utilizes the Firedancer client, designed to enhance the performance and efficiency of the Solana blockchain, offering investors a 0% fee staking solution.

According to the company, the validator is already active on DoubleZero's infrastructure and represents a significant advancement in scalability and speed within the Solana ecosystem. The goal is to allow SOL holders to delegate their stake directly to the Forward node at no cost, increasing decentralization and engagement among network participants.

We've got epic news to share 💥💥💥

Forward Industries Announces Launch of Solana Validator and Integration with @DoubleZero

Read the press release here:

— Forward Industries $FORD (@FWDind) October 7, 2025

All of Forward's stake tokens are allocated to this validator, and the company has stated that it intends to operate exclusively on the DoubleZero network in its future deployments. Furthermore, the project involves pilot programs for revenue optimization, bandwidth expansion, and latency reduction, strengthening Solana's role as a platform geared toward institutional use.

“Decentralized networks only reach their full potential when the underlying infrastructure meets institutional standards for scale, security, and performance,” said Kyle Samani, Chairman of the Board at Forward Industries. “By running our validator on DoubleZero and establishing a long-term partnership, we are aligning ourselves with leading innovators in blockchain infrastructure,” he added. “Together with DoubleZero, Galaxy, and Firedancer, we are strengthening Solana’s resilience and helping ensure it remains the standard for institutional adoption in decentralized finance.”

The launch follows Forward Industries' completion of a $1,65 billion private equity round (PIPE) led by Galaxy Digital, Jump Crypto, and Multicoin Capital. Of this total, over $300 million was invested directly by these companies to support the expansion of Forward's crypto treasury and the acquisition of SOL, Solana's native token.

With the new validator, Forward hopes to position itself among the top ten global Solana validators, solidifying its transition from a simple capital manager to an active participant in strengthening the ecosystem's infrastructure.