Upexi, Inc. Shares Gain in Premarket as Firm Makes Moves to Shake Up DeFi

Upexi, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPXI) shares are surging in premarket trading, up 20.12% to $8.00 as of early morning hours on August 13, 2025, following the company’s announcement of establishing an advisory committee with BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes as its inaugural member.

The strategic move comes as the Solana treasury company continues to position itself as a major player in the decentralized finance space, leveraging its substantial SOL holdings worth over $316 million. With shares closing at $6.66 on Monday, representing an 18.51% gain, investor enthusiasm reflects confidence in Upexi’s ambitious DeFi expansion strategy.

Strategic Advisory Addition Signals DeFi Ambitions for Upexi

The appointment of Arthur Hayes as the first member of Upexi’s newly established advisory committee represents a significant strategic milestone for the company’s cryptocurrency ambitions. Hayes, who co-founded BitMEX and invented the perpetual swap trading mechanism, brings extensive experience from both traditional finance roles at Deutsche Bank and Citigroup, as well as his current position as Chief Investment Officer at Maelstrom digital asset investment fund.

His addition to the advisory committee is designed to leverage world-leading cryptocurrency expertise, enhance Upexi’s brand visibility, and unlock high-impact initiatives including capital raising efforts.

The advisory committee will focus on expanding Upexi’s footprint in the Solana ecosystem through strategic partnerships and targeted investments, while helping champion Solana adoption among institutions and corporates. According to CEO Allan Marshall, the committee will serve as “a catalyst for Upexi’s next stage of growth – driving performance, amplifying our brand and unlocking transformative opportunities.”

Hayes expressed confidence in Upexi’s execution, stating that the company “has executed on its vision with precision” and he’s eager to help cement its position as the definitive Solana treasury company.

Additional advisory committee members are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with the company planning committee-related content and initiatives throughout the year.

This strategic expansion reflects Upexi’s commitment to establishing itself as a leader in the intersection of traditional finance and decentralized finance, particularly within the fast-growing Solana ecosystem.

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Upexi Shares Continue to Surge in Premarket Trading

Upexi shares demonstrated strong momentum with premarket trading showing a 20.12% gain to $8.00 as of early morning hours on August 13, 2025, building on Monday’s closing price of $6.66 which represented an 18.51% increase. The stock has shown remarkable year-to-date performance with a 89.74% return, significantly outpacing the S&P 500’s 9.59% gain over the same period. With a market capitalization of approximately $358 million and trading volume of 11.4 million shares, UPXI has garnered substantial investor interest as a unique play in the cryptocurrency treasury space.

The company’s financial metrics reflect its transformation from a traditional consumer products entity into a Solana-focused treasury operation, with current holdings of 1.9 million SOL tokens valued at approximately $316 million. Despite negative trailing earnings of -$21.77 per share, investors appear optimistic about the company’s strategic pivot and substantial cryptocurrency holdings. The stock’s 52-week range of $0.56 to $7.50 demonstrates the volatile nature of both the equity and underlying crypto markets.

Upexi’s strategy of purchasing locked SOL at a discount while earning 7-9% yields on its holdings has positioned the company as a profitable treasury operation in the Solana ecosystem. The advisory committee addition, combined with the company’s substantial SOL treasury and focus on compliance-driven DeFi expansion, suggests continued investor interest in this unique cryptocurrency investment vehicle as institutional adoption of digital assets accelerates.

Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article. All stock prices were quoted at the time of writing.