Solmate Purchases $50M in Solana from Solana Foundation as Ark Invest Boosts Stake to 11.5%

Solmate Infrastructure, formerly Brera Holdings, has taken a bold step toward advancing blockchain adoption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by purchasing $50 million worth of Solana (SOL) tokens directly from the Solana Foundation. The acquisition, executed during one of the most turbulent market phases in crypto history, reflects growing confidence in Solana’s long-term potential. Solmate and Solana Forge a Strategic Alliance According to the press release , the strategic purchase was conducted under the Solana Foundation’s “Solana By Design” program and came with a 15% discount from the prevailing market price. Solmate will deploy the acquired SOL to power its bare-metal infrastructure projects in the UAE, ensuring seamless blockchain integration across various government and enterprise initiatives. The collaboration also grants the Solana Foundation the right to nominate two directors to Solmate’s board, solidifying the alignment between both organizations. Marco Santori, CEO of Solmate Infrastructure, emphasized that the firm’s infrastructure-first model ensures it remains at the forefront of blockchain innovation. He noted that Solmate’s positioning within the UAE often called the “Capital of capital” gives it a unique geographic advantage in bridging global finance and decentralized technology. Ark Invest Expands Stake to 11.5% In a parallel development, Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest disclosed an 11.5% ownership stake in Solmate Infrastructure, marking one of its most significant blockchain-related investments to date. Ark initially participated in Solmate’s oversubscribed PIPE financing round, acquiring over 6.5 million shares. The investment marked the first time a regulated American ETF joined a crypto infrastructure private placement. Recently, Ark increased its holdings with an additional 779,619 shares, signaling continued conviction in Solana’s growth and Solmate’s strategy. Analysts view Ark’s move as a reflection of institutional confidence in Solana’s utility-driven ecosystem. The investment also underscores a broader shift in institutional strategies favoring direct exposure to blockchain infrastructure rather than speculative trading. Solana Price Recovery and Market Liquidations According to SolanaFloor data, the Solana network saw over $116 million in liquidations during the recent market downturn, making it one of the hardest-hit ecosystems. On-chain derivatives platforms accounted for about $75 million of those liquidations, while centralized exchanges contributed $41 million. Despite the volatility, Solana has since stabilized, trading around $196.98 , marking a 1.21% daily increase after a 13.56% weekly decline. Trader Tardigrade, a market analyst, observed that Solana rebounded sharply from its $172 support level, gaining over 22% on the hourly chart. Source: X The rally pushed prices past $210, where renewed buying pressure confirmed strong market interest. If the uptrend holds, resistance near $268 could be the next key test, potentially paving the way toward $280. However, maintaining the $200–$210 zone remains critical for sustaining bullish momentum.