Solmate Taps Veteran CFO for Abu Dhabi Solana Hub & Football Empire

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – January 02, 2026 – Solmate Infrastructure (NASDAQ: SLMT), the company pursuing a dual strategy of building a Solana blockchain hub in Abu Dhabi while managing a global portfolio of football clubs, has appointed veteran financial executive Erez Simha to its Board of Directors. Effective December 31, 2025, Mr. Simha will serve as an independent director and chair the Audit Committee, a move signaling a drive towards sharpened financial governance as the company navigates its complex and ambitious growth plans.

Mr. Simha steps into the role succeeding Alberto Libanori, who continues with the company as its Head of Operations. The appointment brings a seasoned financial architect into the fold at a pivotal moment for Solmate, as it seeks to solidify its footing in the Middle East's burgeoning digital asset landscape and manage its unique combination of high-tech infrastructure and professional sports assets.

A Financial Architect for a Hybrid Vision

Erez Simha brings a formidable resume spanning over two decades, marked by a consistent track record of scaling high-tech and disruptive public companies. His career is a tour of innovation across diverse sectors, from 3D printing and digital assets to food-tech. As a Certified Public Accountant with an MBA in Finance, he is designated as an audit committee financial expert under SEC regulations, bringing a crucial layer of compliance and oversight to Solmate's board.

His past roles include serving as Chief Financial Officer for Genius Group (NYSE: GNS) and holding executive positions as President and CFO at digital asset firm Apifiny Group. Perhaps most notably, he was the Global COO and CFO at 3D printing giant Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS), where he was instrumental in its public offering and global expansion. This deep experience in taking innovative companies through hyper-growth phases and managing the complexities of public markets is precisely what Solmate's leadership sought.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Erez to our board as our new independent director and Audit Committee chair," said Marco Santori, Solmate CEO, in a statement. "His deep expertise in scaling technology companies and navigating sophisticated financial structures will be crucial to our growth as we establish the UAE as the premier hub for institutional blockchain infrastructure.”

Beyond his corporate roles, Simha also serves as the Audit Committee Chair for Fold Holdings, Inc., a bitcoin financial services company, further cementing his expertise within the digital asset domain. This background provides him with a unique lens to guide Solmate’s financial strategy, balancing the high-risk, high-reward nature of blockchain with the stringent reporting and governance standards required of a NASDAQ-listed entity.

Building a Solana Fortress in the Desert

Simha's appointment is inextricably linked to Solmate’s core mission: building institutional-grade Solana staking, validation, and treasury infrastructure with a strategic bullseye on Abu Dhabi. The company is planting its flag firmly in the United Arab Emirates, a nation aggressively positioning itself as a global nexus for finance and technology. The UAE’s national blockchain strategies and the establishment of clear regulatory frameworks by bodies like the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have created a fertile ground for companies like Solmate.

Solmate has already made significant inroads. The company recently launched the first bare metal Solana validator in the UAE, a critical piece of hardware for securing the network, and is enticing institutional players with a 0% commission staking offer. This move, along with a strategic partnership for Abu Dhabi Finance Week and a landmark purchase of discounted $SOL tokens directly from the Solana Foundation, demonstrates a clear and aggressive execution of its regional strategy.

Backed by prominent investors such as Cathie Wood's ARK Invest, crypto-native venture firm RockawayX, and influential UAE-based investors, Solmate is deploying significant capital to drive Solana adoption across the Middle East. The presence of a financial heavyweight like Simha on the board is intended to provide confidence to these investors that this capital will be managed with discipline and strategic foresight, especially as the company navigates a market known for its volatility.

The Unconventional Playbook: Football and Blockchain

What makes Solmate's story particularly compelling is its unusual dual identity. The company, which operates under the name of its predecessor Brera Holdings PLC, continues to manage a multi-club ownership (MCO) model in professional football. This portfolio is a global collection of what Brera termed undervalued assets, including Brera FC in Milan, Brera Strumica in North Macedonia, and a majority stake in the Italian Serie B club SS Juve Stabia.

The strategy inherited from Brera focuses on a "bottom-up value creation" model, aiming to generate revenue from tournament prizes, player transfers, and sponsorships. While seemingly disconnected from Solana validators, this sports empire provides a unique platform for brand building and potential, yet-to-be-realized synergies. The global appeal of football offers a massive audience for introducing blockchain applications, from fan engagement tokens to decentralized ticketing systems. However, managing the finances of a tech startup and a disparate group of international sports teams is a complex undertaking that requires sophisticated financial leadership.

Navigating Market Headwinds and Strategic Bets

The path forward for Solmate is not without its challenges. The company's stock (SLMT) has exhibited high price volatility and has been trading significantly below its 52-week high, reflecting broader market pressures and investor scrutiny of its ambitious, hybrid model. Financial metrics indicate the company operates with a moderate level of debt and that its short-term obligations currently exceed its liquid assets, underscoring the importance of Simha's role in ensuring financial stability and steering the company towards profitability.

Adding another layer of strategic importance to this appointment is Solmate's recent blockbuster announcement: a term sheet to acquire RockawayX. The Prague-based venture firm is a crypto powerhouse with a strong engineering focus on the Solana ecosystem and over $2 billion in assets under management. Should this acquisition be finalized, it would transform Solmate into an institutional crypto giant, dramatically scaling its operations, assets, and influence within the industry. Overseeing the financial integration of such a monumental deal and ensuring it delivers value for shareholders will undoubtedly be a primary focus for the newly fortified board and its expert audit chair.