DeFi Development (DFDV) CEO awarded 828,236 new stock options

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Onorati Joseph Mario reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

DeFi Development Corp. reported that CEO and Chairman Joseph Mario Onorati received a grant of stock options for 828,236 shares on February 17, 2026. These options are derivative securities that give him the right to buy common shares in the future.

According to the vesting terms, one-forty-eighth of the total options vests each month on the same calendar day as the first vesting date, so all 828,236 options are scheduled to be fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, as long as he continues to serve through each vesting date. Following this award, his reported option holdings of this type total 828,236 shares.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Onorati Joseph Mario

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O DEFI DEVELOPMENT CORP.

6041 CONGRESS AVENUE, SUITE 250

(Street)

BOCA RATON FL 33487

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
DeFi Development Corp. [ DFDV ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	CEO & Chairman

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/17/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to buy)	$3.8	02/17/2026		A		828,236		03/17/2026(1)	02/17/2036	Common Stock	828,236	$0.0000	828,236	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The date shown is the first date exercisable. One-forty-eighth (1/48th) of the total number of shares subject to the Option shall vest on the same date of the month applicable to the first vesting date, such that 100% of the shares subject to the Option will be vested on the four (4) year anniversary of the grant date, subject to the reporting person's continued service through each applicable vesting date.

	/s/ Joseph Mario Onorati	02/19/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV) report?

DeFi Development Corp. reported a stock option grant to CEO and Chairman Joseph Mario Onorati covering 828,236 shares. The options are derivative securities that give him the right to purchase common stock if and when they vest and become exercisable.

Who received the 828,236 stock options at DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV)?

CEO and Chairman Joseph Mario Onorati received a grant of 828,236 stock options. The Form 4 shows these as directly owned derivative securities, increasing his reported option holdings of this type to 828,236 shares after the transaction.

When were the new stock options for DeFi Development (DFDV) CEO first exercisable?

The Form 4 lists February 17, 2026 as the first date the options are exercisable. A footnote explains that this date is the initial exercisability, from which the monthly vesting schedule begins for the granted options.

How do the 828,236 stock options for DeFi Development (DFDV) vest?

The options vest in 1/48th monthly installments, so all 828,236 shares are scheduled to vest over four years. Vesting depends on Joseph Mario Onorati’s continued service through each applicable monthly vesting date described in the footnote.

What is Joseph Mario Onorati’s total reported option holdings after this DFDV grant?

After this grant, Joseph Mario Onorati is reported as directly holding 828,236 stock options of this type. The Form 4 shows this figure as the total number of derivative securities beneficially owned following the reported transaction.

Does the DeFi Development (DFDV) Form 4 show a stock purchase or a grant?

The filing shows a grant or award acquisition of stock options, not an open-market purchase. The transaction code is “A,” indicating a grant, award, or other acquisition of derivative securities rather than a buy or sell in the market.