{"id":"kyle-samani","hidden":false,"ipfs":"QmdpfTSY2dWmqmQW1om15auPg5ZtDr2ChSgqjZJDkbUq2v","language":"en","transactionHash":"0xee083929fd839a01c510ef95ee0afbb3ff78618a79dba723dd9896399d3d43a2","created":"2026-02-08T05:40:03.759Z","updated":"2026-10-05T05:07:19.335Z","title":"Kyle Samani","summary":"Kyle Samani is the Co-Founder and former Managing Partner of Multicoin Capital. He is a prominent advocate for the Solana ecosystem and currently serves as Chairman of Forward Industries.","content":"**Kyle Samani** is an American investor and entrepreneur known for co-founding the cryptocurrency-focused investment firm Multicoin Capital. He is a prominent advocate for the [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) ecosystem and, as of September 2025, serves as the Chairman of [Forward Industries](https://iq.wiki/wiki/forward-industries). In February 2026, he stepped down from his role as Managing Partner at Multicoin Capital after nearly a decade with the firm.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-GmAMwdYDbmxg7wf4)​[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-YNen6cR04MYpi5mf)​\n\n## Education\n\nKyle Samani earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, where he studied from 2008 to 2012.[\\[3\\]](#cite-id-TwZdAxpLcYFePr61) \n\n## Career\n\n### Entry into Crypto and Founding of Multicoin Capital\n\nSamani entered the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industry in 2016 through [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum), which he later stated was his \"first meaningful source of wealth.\" In 2017, he co-founded Multicoin Capital with Tushar Jain. The firm was established as a thesis-driven investment vehicle dedicated exclusively to the crypto ecosystem.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-GmAMwdYDbmxg7wf4)​\n\n### Multicoin Capital\n\nAs Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Samani led Multicoin Capital from its inception in 2017 until early 2026. The firm, which has a global footprint, grew to manage several billion dollars in assets across both hedge funds and venture funds. Multicoin's strategy involves investing in both early-stage projects through its venture arm and liquid tokens through its hedge fund. The firm's Limited Partners (LPs) include a diverse group of institutional investors, such as university endowments, fund of funds, prominent technology investors, venture capital funds, and family offices.[\\[3\\]](#cite-id-TwZdAxpLcYFePr61)​[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-GmAMwdYDbmxg7wf4)​\n\nUnder Samani's leadership, Multicoin became known for making early, thesis-driven investments in projects before they gained widespread recognition. Notable early investments include [Helium](https://iq.wiki/wiki/helium) and [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana). The firm began investing in [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) in May 2018 and became one of its most vocal long-term supporters. A key part of Multicoin's strategy involved publishing detailed investment theses to the public; by January 2025, the firm had released five major theses on [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana), with the most recent titled \"The [Solana](https://iq.wiki/wiki/solana) Thesis: Internet Capital Markets.\"[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-YNen6cR04MYpi5mf)​[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-GmAMwdYDbmxg7wf4)​\n\n### Departure from Multicoin Capital\n\nOn February 4, 2026, Samani announced via a post on the social media platform X that he was stepping down from his role as Managing Partner at Multicoin Capital. He stated that he planned to take time off and \"_pursue other areas of tech_.\" In his announcement, Samani reflected on his tenure, stating, \"_It's a bittersweet moment for me because my time at Multicoin has been some of the most meaningful and rewarding of my life._\" He also expressed continued confidence in the [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industry's future, writing, \"_I’m more confident than ever that_ [_crypto_](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) _is going to fundamentally rewire the circuitry of finance_.\"[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-GmAMwdYDbmxg7wf4)​[\\[4\\]](#cite-id-LL16uAaEL7H1a6pv)​\n\nFollowing his departure, day-to-day operations at Multicoin Capital were taken over by his co-founder, Managing Partner Tushar Jain, and CFO/COO [Brian Smith](https://iq.wiki/wiki/brian-smith). The firm did not announce a direct replacement for Samani. Upon leaving, Samani requested an in-kind redemption in [Forward Industries](https://iq.wiki/wiki/forward-industries) shares and warrants from the Multicoin Master Fund, maintaining his connection to the Solana-focused company. He noted that while he was stepping away from a professional role in the industry, he would continue to make personal investments in the crypto space.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-GmAMwdYDbmxg7wf4)​\n\n### Backpack US\n\nIn September 2026, Samani joined the U.S. board of directors of Backpack US, the American arm of Backpack, a crypto-native financial institution that seeks to connect traditional financial markets with [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain)-based finance. His appointment was announced on September 2, 2026, as part of Backpack’s broader effort to expand its regulated financial infrastructure and bridge conventional capital markets with on-chain trading and tokenization services.[\\[5\\]](#cite-id-orjc5eoyjq)​[\\[6\\]](#cite-id-feuxd9g20k)​\n","recentActivity":null,"operator":{"id":"0x4a2bC97afBF41a2Cbf4b4628F63420682Ff4CF2a"},"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"tags":[{"id":"Venture"},{"id":"DeFi"},{"id":"Solana"},{"id":"Founder"}],"images":[{"id":"QmYd3djZYCtGacuZ3vy18pB7Yv36eDhK9pBAzMnotttfP1","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"media":[],"linkedWikis":{"founders":[],"blockchains":[],"speakers":[]},"events":[{"id":"82997689-3fb2-45d5-89d8-44148128e9ed","type":null,"date":"2017-01-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":null,"continent":null,"title":"Co-founded Multicoin Capital","description":"Kyle Samani co-founded Multicoin Capital, a thesis-driven investment firm focused exclusively on the crypto ecosystem.","link":null},{"id":"dfade302-97f2-49bd-b8bb-dc6863491fac","type":null,"date":"2025-09-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":null,"continent":null,"title":"Became Chairman of Forward Industries","description":"Samani was appointed Chairman of Forward Industries following the closure of a $1.65B PIPE financing round.","link":null},{"id":"8de93f37-6474-4f3a-ac6b-546446634717","type":null,"date":"2026-02-01","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"country":null,"continent":null,"title":"Stepped Down from Multicoin Capital","description":"Samani stepped down from his role as Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Multicoin Capital to pursue other areas of tech.","link":"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/02/04/multicoin-co-founder-kyle-samani-steps-down-after-nearly-a-decade-to-pursue-other-areas-of-tech"}],"founderWikis":[],"blockchainWikis":[],"metadata":[{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/KyleSamani"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylesamani/"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"GmAMwdYDbmxg7wf4\",\"description\":\"CoinDesk - Multicoin Capital co-founder Kyle Samani steps down after nearly a decade to pursue other areas of tech\",\"timestamp\":1770528995235,\"url\":\"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/02/04/multicoin-co-founder-kyle-samani-steps-down-after-nearly-a-decade-to-pursue-other-areas-of-tech\"},{\"id\":\"YNen6cR04MYpi5mf\",\"description\":\"Kyle Samani's Official X Profile\",\"timestamp\":1770529009901,\"url\":\"https://x.com/KyleSamani\"},{\"id\":\"TwZdAxpLcYFePr61\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn: Kyle Samani\",\"timestamp\":1770528977451,\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylesamani/\"},{\"id\":\"LL16uAaEL7H1a6pv\",\"description\":\"The Block - Multicoin founder Kyle Samani steps back from investment firm, will continue to advocate for Solana\",\"timestamp\":1770529024819,\"url\":\"https://www.theblock.co/post/388561/multicoin-founder-kyle-samani-steps-back-vc-firm-continue-advocate-solana\"},{\"id\":\"orjc5eoyjq\",\"url\":\"https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/crypto/articles/backpack-us-appoints-multicoin-capital-133000413.html\",\"description\":\"Yahoo Finance - Backpack US Appoints Multicoin Capital Co-Founder Kyle Samani to Board\",\"timestamp\":1791176723437},{\"id\":\"feuxd9g20k\",\"url\":\"https://www.tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:58ec9c1ba094b:0-kyle-samani-predicts-sol-flippening-claims-no-one-uses-eth\",\"description\":\"TradingView/Cointelegraph - Kyle Samani predicts SOL flippening, joins Backpack US board\",\"timestamp\":1791176723437}]"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmdpfTSY2dWmqmQW1om15auPg5ZtDr2ChSgqjZJDkbUq2v"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"Update Kyle Samani wiki: minor copy and formatting fixes"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmdpfTSY2dWmqmQW1om15auPg5ZtDr2ChSgqjZJDkbUq2v"}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x4a2bC97afBF41a2Cbf4b4628F63420682Ff4CF2a"},"views":288}