DeFi Development Corp. Announces Investment in Apyx, The First Dividend-Backed Stablecoin (DBS) Protocol
Rhea-AI Summary
DeFi Development Corp. (Nasdaq: DFDV) announced a strategic investment in Apyx, a Dividend-Backed Stablecoin (DBS) protocol on Feb 26, 2026. DFDV participated as the first institutional capital, aiming to bridge dividend streams from Digital Asset Treasuries into onchain yield for stablecoins.
The company said Apyx sources yield from preferred equity issued by Digital Asset Treasuries, positioning the partnership as infrastructure for yield-bearing stablecoin exposure within the >$300 billion stablecoin market.
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News Market Reaction – DFDV
On the day this news was published, DFDV declined 12.11%, reflecting a significant negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -11.3% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 47 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $17M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $126M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Momentum scanner shows sector names like RXT and ARQQ moving up, but DFDV’s move is flagged as stock-specific rather than a broad software/fintech rotation.
Previous Crypto,dividends Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 08 | Warrant dividend announced | Positive | +13.8% | Special warrant dividend to stock and note holders with potential $73.5M proceeds. |
For crypto/dividend-related actions, DFDV has previously seen a positive price response.
Over recent months, DeFi Development Corp has emphasized its Solana-focused digital asset treasury strategy and capital markets tools. A prior Oct 08, 2025 announcement of a warrant dividend tied to common stock and convertible notes produced a 13.84% next-day gain, highlighting investor receptivity to yield- and dividend-linked structures. Today’s investment in Apyx, a dividend-backed stablecoin protocol, extends that theme by targeting infrastructure that channels public-company dividend streams into onchain yield.
Historical Comparison
In the past, DFDV’s only crypto/dividends event led to a 13.84% move. Today’s reaction is somewhat stronger but directionally consistent with that pattern.
The company has moved from distributing warrant-based dividends toward investing in Apyx, infrastructure aimed at channeling dividend-backed yield into onchain stablecoin markets.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock dropped -12.1% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite the strategic Apyx investment would contrast with the prior crypto/dividends event, which saw a 13.84% gain. Such a decline could reflect skepticism about execution, concerns over complex yield structures, or broader risk-off sentiment in digital assets. Given that shares trade far below the 200-day MA, investors would need to consider whether weakness fits an ongoing downtrend rather than this specific news alone.
Key Terms
dividend-backed stablecoin (dbs) financial
stablecoin financial
preferred equity financial
digital asset treasuries financial
onchain technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
BOCA RATON, FL, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DeFi Development Corp. (Nasdaq: DFDV) (the “Company”), the first public company with a treasury strategy designed to accumulate and compound Solana (“SOL”), today announced a strategic investment in Apyx, a Dividend-Backed Stablecoin (DBS) protocol. DFDV participated as the first institutional capital in the project, establishing an early position in the emerging DBS category.
Apyx is designed to source yield from preferred equity issued by Digital Asset Treasuries (“DATs”). Preferred equity can be issued by any public company, but in recent quarters, it has increasingly been used by DATs as a financing instrument to fund digital asset accumulation. DFDV believes this trend will continue as more public companies adopt treasury strategies focused on compounding digital assets over time.
“We view Apyx as important infrastructure for the emerging Digital Asset Treasury ecosystem,” said Joseph Onorati, Chief Executive Officer of DeFi Development Corp. “By sourcing yield from preferred equity issued by DATs, Apyx creates a feedback mechanism that can help bridge publicly listed balance sheet yield into onchain markets. As a DAT ourselves, this investment reflects both strategic alignment and financial conviction.”
Apyx aims to translate dividend streams generated on public company balance sheets into onchain yield, offering stable, yield-bearing exposure. DFDV believes this model represents a meaningful step toward introducing dividend-backed yield into the +
To learn more about Apyx, visit here: https://apyx.fi/.
About DeFi Development Corp.
DeFi Development Corp. (Nasdaq: DFDV) has adopted a treasury policy under which the principal holding in its treasury reserve is allocated to SOL. Through this strategy, the Company provides investors with direct economic exposure to SOL, while also actively participating in the growth of the Solana ecosystem. In addition to holding and staking SOL, DeFi Development Corp. operates its own validator infrastructure, generating staking rewards and fees from delegated stake. The Company is also engaged across decentralized finance (“DeFi”) opportunities and continues to explore innovative ways to support and benefit from Solana’s expanding application layer.
The Company is an AI-powered online platform that connects the commercial real estate industry by providing data and software subscriptions, as well as value-add services, to multifamily and commercial property professionals, as the Company connects the increasingly complex ecosystem that stakeholders have to manage.
The Company currently serves more than one million web users annually, including multifamily and commercial property owners and developers applying for billions of dollars of debt financing per year, professional service providers, and thousands of multifamily and commercial property lenders, including more than
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," strategy," "future," "likely," "may,", "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (i) fluctuations in the market price of SOL and any associated impairment charges that the Company may incur as a result of a decrease in the market price of SOL below the value at which the Company’s SOL are carried on its balance sheet; (ii) the effect of and uncertainties related to the ongoing volatility in interest rates; (iii) our ability to achieve and maintain profitability in the future; (iv) the impact on our business of the regulatory environment and complexities with compliance related to such environment including changes in securities laws or other laws or regulations; (v) changes in the accounting treatment relating to the Company’s SOL holdings; (vi) our ability to respond to general economic conditions; (vii) our ability to manage our growth effectively and our expectations regarding the development and expansion of our business; (viii) our ability to access sources of capital, including debt financing and other sources of capital to finance operations and growth and (ix) other risks and uncertainties more fully in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the SEC. As a result of these matters, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
Investor Contact:
ir@defidevcorp.com
Media Contact:
press@defidevcorp.com
FAQ
What did DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV) announce on February 26, 2026?
How does Apyx plan to generate yield for its dividend-backed stablecoin?
Why is DFDV investing in Apyx and what is the strategic rationale?
Does the DFDV announcement quantify the investment amount in Apyx?
What market opportunity does DFDV cite for Apyx within stablecoins?
