Backpack US announced on September 2, 2026, that Kyle Samani, co-founder of Multicoin Capital, has joined its board of directors. The appointment comes roughly two months after Samani made a significant personal investment in the company in July 2026.
Samani stepped back from active roles at Multicoin Capital earlier in 2026, enabling him to pursue strategic opportunities such as this board position. CEO Armani Ferrante cited Samani's expertise in decentralized finance and regulatory affairs as key reasons for the appointment, skills particularly relevant as Backpack develops a compliance-first framework alongside on-chain tokenization capabilities.
The appointment reflects Backpack US's broader strategy to strengthen its leadership team. In March 2026, the company brought on Mark Wetjen, a former Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as President of Backpack US.
Platform Structure
Backpack US operates a regulated brokerage offering real US equities rather than synthetic versions or derivatives. The platform provides access to companies including SpaceX, Micron, and SanDisk, with trading available during standard 24/5 hours through regulated channels.
The platform's distinguishing feature is a tokenization layer that converts select equities into blockchain-based versions on a 1:1 basis on the Solana network. Tokenized shares can be traded 24/7 and are compatible with decentralized finance protocols, allowing users to potentially use them as collateral or integrate them into on-chain strategies.
Backpack US emphasizes that tokenized securities represent real ownership of equities, including rights to dividends and corporate actions, operating under New York UCC Article 8. The tokenized security platform launched in public beta around mid-2026.
