Helius Medical Technologies has taken a bold step into the crypto world with a $500 million private equity raise. The funding round, which was quickly oversubscribed, will be used to build a Solana-denominated reserve.
Building a Solana Treasury
The company isn’t simply stockpiling SOL. Instead, it plans to generate yield through staking and lending activities on the Solana network. This strategy marks a shift from traditional corporate treasuries and positions Helius among a growing number of publicly traded firms betting on Solana.
Key backers of the raise include:
- Pantera Capital (USA)
- Summer Capital (Hong Kong)
- Big Brain Holdings
- Avenir
- FalconX
- Arrington Capital
- Animoca Brands
- HashKey Capital
This strong list of institutional supporters highlights the rising demand for Solana exposure among both funds and corporations.
Market Reaction and Industry Impact
Following the announcement, Helius shares surged by roughly 140–150%. Investors appear to welcome the company’s pivot toward crypto, particularly its focus on Solana’s yield opportunities.
Unlike Bitcoin, which offers no native yield, Solana provides a staking return of around 7% along with lending opportunities. For companies seeking to make their capital work harder, this difference is significant. Moves like Helius’ can boost confidence in SOL and encourage more corporate treasuries to explore crypto reserves.
Risks on the Horizon
Despite the excitement, the plan is not without challenges:
- Volatility: SOL remains subject to sharp price swings that could impact treasury value.
- Regulatory uncertainty: Rules governing crypto treasuries, accounting, and taxation are still evolving.
- Execution risk: Reliance on staking and lending strategies introduces risks like validator slashing or counterparty failures.
Helius’ decision underscores a broader trend of companies treating crypto, and Solana in particular, as more than just a speculative asset. For investors, it signals both opportunity and risk as traditional markets continue to merge with blockchain finance.
