DeFi Development raises CHAD dividend to 14% as it expands Solana treasury

Nasdaq-listed DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV) is raising the annual dividend rate on its CHAD preferred stock from 13% to 14%, effective Nov. 2. The move comes as the company seeks to grow its Solana (SOL) treasury through future CHAD issuances and returns generated by staking and validator operations.

CHAD’s higher payout

Based on CHAD’s stated value of $10 per share, the new rate represents an annual dividend of $1.40, up from $1.30. Payments are made each business day when declared by the company’s board.

The increase gives CHAD a higher stated income rate while preserving its structure as a Nasdaq-listed preferred security. CEO Joseph Onorati said the change is intended to broaden investor participation and support the company’s effort to scale the instrument.

Onorati described CHAD as a potential “digital credit instrument,” combining double-digit dividend income with exposure to a company operating a productive SOL treasury. He said the strategy is designed to expand DFDV’s ability to accumulate SOL and support accretive growth for common shareholders while maintaining disciplined capital management.

Treasury growth and trading activity

DFDV reported adding approximately 22,070 SOL and SOL equivalents during the week preceding the announcement. Its holdings now total about 2.59 million SOL.

The company said CHAD also reached record trading highs during the same period. DFDV recently authorized a program to repurchase up to all outstanding CHAD shares, giving it an additional tool for managing the preferred stock’s supply and market activity.

Key figures from the update include:

• 14%: new annual CHAD dividend rate.
• $1.40: annual dividend per share based on the $10 stated value.
• 2.59 million SOL: reported SOL and SOL-equivalent treasury holdings.
• 22,070 SOL: approximate holdings increase during the reported week.
• Nov. 2: effective date for the higher dividend rate.

The company’s model links preferred-stock financing to the accumulation and operation of SOL, including staking and validator-related returns. Future CHAD issuance proceeds are expected to support further treasury expansion.

What This Means

The increase positions CHAD as a higher-yielding, publicly traded vehicle tied to a Solana treasury strategy. For investors, the appeal is the combination of a stated cash dividend, daily payment declarations and indirect exposure to DFDV’s SOL accumulation plans.

At the same time, the approach depends on the company’s ability to manage issuance, maintain its dividend policy and generate sufficient returns from its treasury operations. The reported rise in SOL holdings and CHAD trading activity signals growing scale, but the preferred security’s performance remains linked to both DFDV’s execution and broader market conditions for SOL and digital assets.