1Q 2025 earnings May 6, 2025 +5% Adjusted net revenue growth1 +70 bps Forward-looking statements This presentation may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate, and beliefs of and assumptions made by our management, involve risks, uncertainties and a ...

Investment Rating - The report indicates a cautious optimism in the fintech investment landscape for 2025, following a challenging 2024, with a total investment of $95.6 billion and a transaction count of 4,639, marking a seven-year low [4][17]. Core Insights - The global fintech investment landscape faced significant challenges in 2024 due to macroeconomic factors, geopolitical tensions, and notable elections, leading to a decline in investment, particularly in M&A and private equity [4][6]. - The Americas region accounted for the largest share of fintech investment in the second half of 2024, totaling $31 billion, with significant transactions including Nuvei at $6.3 billion and Envestnet at $4.5 billion [5][19]. - The payment sector remained the hottest area for fintech investment, attracting $31 billion in 2024, followed by digital assets and cryptocurrencies at $9.1 billion and regtech at $7.4 billion [5][19]. Summary by Sections Global Fintech Investment Overview - Total global fintech investment in 2024 reached $95.6 billion, with the second half contributing $43.9 billion [13][17]. - Investment sentiment shifted from cautious to cautiously optimistic, with a notable increase in Q4 2024, signaling potential recovery in 2025 [6][18]. Regional Analysis - The Americas led with $63.8 billion in investment, followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at $20.3 billion, and Asia-Pacific at $11.4 billion [17]. - In the second half of 2024, the Americas attracted $31 billion, while EMEA secured $7.3 billion and Asia-Pacific $5.5 billion [5][18]. Sector Analysis - The payment sector saw a rebound in investment to $31 billion in 2024, driven by defensive transactions and strategic acquisitions [19][80]. - Digital assets and cryptocurrencies experienced a slight increase in investment to $9.1 billion, with significant transactions occurring in the second half of the year [26][35]. - Regtech investments reached $7.4 billion, with a focus on AI-driven solutions and compliance technologies [105][111]. M&A and Private Equity Trends - M&A activity decreased from $28.1 billion in the first half to $21.6 billion in the second half of 2024, but Q4 showed a significant recovery [24][18]. - Private equity investments dropped sharply from $10.5 billion in 2023 to $2.55 billion in 2024, reflecting a cautious approach among investors [24][25]. Future Outlook - The report anticipates a recovery in fintech investments in 2025, driven by declining interest rates and reduced uncertainty following key elections [6][21]. - B2B fintech companies are expected to attract significant attention, particularly in payments and regtech sectors [29][30].

Core Viewpoint - SOL Strategies Inc. has made significant strides in expanding its validator network and enhancing its position within the Solana blockchain ecosystem through strategic acquisitions and operational excellence [2][7]. Company Developments - The acquisition of Laine's validator network and Stakewiz.com for CAD $35 million on March 17, 2025, increased the total SOL staked at the company's validators to 3,351,617 SOL, marking a 102% increase from February [7]. - Michael Hubbard, founder of Laine, has joined SOL Strategies as Chief Strategy Officer to lead validator infrastructure expansion and institutional partnerships [8]. - The company acquired 24,000 SOL at an average cost of approximately CAD $199 per token, holding a total of 267,151 SOL by March 31, 2025, with 265,295 SOL staked [11]. Validator Performance Metrics - Total SOL staked across all validators reached 3,391,092 SOL, valued at approximately CAD $552 million (USD $396 million) [3]. - The company operates four validators, including one added through the Laine acquisition [3]. - Uptime across all validators was reported at 99.955%, with an average annual percentage yield (APY) delivered to delegators at 7.41%, outperforming the network average of 7.32% [10]. Market Context - The price of SOL experienced notable volatility in March, starting at around $144, reaching a low of approximately $110, a high of about $178, and closing just under $126, resulting in an overall decline of roughly 12.5% for the month [15]. - Despite the price decline, the underlying protocol-level rewards remained steady, indicating resilience in the staking operations [6]. Industry Engagement - SOL Strategies' CEO Leah Wald participated in various media platforms and industry events, reinforcing the company's thought leadership within the digital asset space [12]. - The Solana ecosystem saw significant developments, including Visa and Worldpay expanding their use of Solana for stablecoin settlement, and Solana Mobile delivering pre-orders of its second smartphone focused on Web3-native experiences [13][14].