Multicoin founder Kyle Samani steps back from VC firm, will continue to advocate for Solana

Multicoin Managing Partner Kyle Samani is stepping back from the crypto-focused venture capital giant he co-founded, according to an announcement on Wednesday. 

“Since starting Multicoin with [me] over eight years ago, Kyle’s interests have expanded beyond crypto into other areas of technology, such as AI, longevity, and robotics, amongst others. He’s chosen to dedicate his time to exploring these emerging technologies,” co-founder Tushar Jain said in a blog post also attributed to Samani and the Multicoin team. 

Samani has been a leading voice in the industry for years, having promoted major blockchain projects like Solana, sectors like DePIN, and also co-founding the largest SOL-backed digital asset treasury firm, Forward. He has also helped popularize particular theses and phrases, like IBRL — or “Increase Bandwidth, Reduce Latency,” a core performance initiative in the Solana. 

“It's a bittersweet moment for me because my time at Multicoin has been some of the most meaningful and rewarding of my life. That said, I am excited to take some time off and explore new areas of technology,” Samani said. 

Optimistic about regulations

In recent months, Samani has also been a frequent crypto advocate during policy discussions in Washington DC. He was part of the troupe that met with the Securities and Exchange Commission Crypto Task Force to discuss staking ETFs, which are beginning to come on the market. 

“After nearly a decade in crypto, I’m more confident than ever that crypto is going to fundamentally rewire the circuitry of finance. I believe the Clarity Act will unlock a tidal wave of new entrants and spur adoption unlike anything we’ve seen,” Samani said, referring to the market structure bill winding its way through the legislative process.

Samani will stay on as chairman of Forward and continue to serve on the board of Zama, the cryptography project that recently released its ZAMA token, according to Samani's statement.

He will also continue to make personal investments in the crypto sector, particularly related to Solana, and support Multicoin portfolio companies, Samani said.