DeFi Technologies Shares Update on Ownership Issues and Director Resignation

DeFi Technologies Provides Update on Share Ownership and Management Changes

On December 22, 2025, DeFi Technologies, a financial technology leader connecting traditional markets with decentralized finance (DeFi), released a detailed statement addressing ongoing issues regarding share ownership and imbalances in their depository records. This announcement serves as an extension of their initial disclosure on August 12, 2025, which gained attention due to shareholder concerns about potential irregularities in trading activities.

The company's efforts to improve transparency come in light of requests from the Ontario Securities Commission. The update is designed to reassure investors and stakeholders alike, shedding light on how the company plans to handle these imbalances moving forward.

Shareholder Insights and Communication Efforts

DeFi Technologies has been actively engaging with its investors, collecting insights and anecdotal feedback regarding their shares. To facilitate a deeper understanding of the trading landscape, the company contracted Shareholder Intelligence Services, LLC (ShareIntel) in June 2025. This partnership aims to gather comprehensive data on share ownership patterns, transactions, and custodial details which are essential for analyzing how shares are being traded and settled. This was originally announced by the company on June 20, 2025.

As part of their analysis, DeFi Technologies received reports detailing share positions from June 23, June 30, and July 15 of 2025. These reports disclosed ongoing discrepancies arising from broker-dealers' reporting to intermediaries connected to the Depository Trust Company (DTC) and Canadian Depository for Securities (CDS).

The imbalances highlighted in these reports prompted the company to issue the clarifying statement in August, aimed at ensuring all shareholders were fully informed of the actions being taken to address these discrepancies. Following the August announcement, two additional reports were received, reaffirming the continuing nature of these ownership imbalances in both Canadian and U.S. markets.

In response, DeFi Technologies made outreach to 14 broker-dealers with significant discrepancies, requesting reconciliations and clarifications on the issues. So far, five broker-dealers have responded, attributing the discrepancies to various factors such as timing differences in settlements, securities lending dynamics, and reporting variances with different intermediaries. The company is keenly awaiting further responses and may initiate additional inquiries to explore these imbalances thoroughly.

Importantly, DeFi Technologies has expressed that it does not believe these ownership imbalances have affected the voting processes during their 2025 shareholder assembly, given the level of discrepancies observed and quorum attendance.

Director Resignation Announcement

In addition to addressing concerns regarding share ownership, DeFi Technologies announced the immediate resignation of Stefan Hascoet from its board of directors. Hascoet has been a part of the company's leadership since June 2023, providing valuable insights and guidance during his tenure. The company has praised his contributions and extended best wishes for his future endeavors.

About DeFi Technologies

Founded with the aspiration of bridging traditional financial markets with decentralized finance, DeFi Technologies Inc. (listed on Nasdaq under DEFT) stands out as the first digital asset manager traded on Nasdaq. The company offers a comprehensive range of financial products tailored for equity investors, granting them exposure to innovative digital assets through a unique business model that encompasses its subsidiaries like Valour and Stillman Digital.

Valour Inc. specializes in creating exchange-traded products (ETPs) aimed at simplifying access to digital assets for both retail and institutional investors. Meanwhile, Reflexivity Research and Neuronomics focus on providing top-notch research and data analytics services in the fast-evolving digital asset landscape.

With a deep reservoir of expertise in capital markets and the burgeoning field of blockchain technology, DeFi Technologies is paving the way for a future where traditional finance and decentralized systems coexist more harmoniously.

For ongoing updates and further information about DeFi Technologies and its initiatives, interested parties are encouraged to engage with the company on LinkedIn and X/Twitter or visit their official website at defi.tech.