Forward Industries Unveils 0%-Fee Solana Validator – Built with Galaxy and Firedancer

Group 1: Core Developments - Forward Industries Inc. launched an institutional-grade validator node on the Solana blockchain in partnership with DoubleZero, enhancing speed and scalability across the ecosystem [1][3] - The validator operates with 0% commission, allowing Solana holders to delegate stake at no cost, with all tokens staked by Forward Industries currently delegated to this validator [2] - The validator is expected to rank among the top ten Solana validators globally, marking a significant shift for the company from a capital allocator to an active ecosystem contributor [3] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships - The collaboration with DoubleZero includes pilot programs aimed at revenue optimization, bandwidth expansion, and latency reduction, reinforcing Solana's appeal for institutional and enterprise use [3] - Forward Industries is aligning with leading innovators in blockchain infrastructure, including Galaxy and Jump Crypto, to strengthen Solana's resiliency and support its institutional adoption [4][5] Group 3: Financial Developments - In September, Forward Industries successfully closed a private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing, raising $1.65 billion before fees and expenses, with over $300 million contributed by Galaxy Digital, Jump Crypto, and Multicoin Capital [5][6] - The proceeds from the funding round will be used to establish cryptocurrency treasury operations, focusing on purchasing SOL, the native token of the Solana blockchain, along with working capital and future transactions [6]