THE MAN BEHIND THE BORDER KID

Thomas Francisco Pena wasn’t a brand, a symbol, or an idea. He was my little brother.

Thomas had a way of showing up. He visited family, made people laugh, and was always down for whatever the family was doing.

He loved rock music, motorcycles, and football. Riding was something that ran through our family, shared between Thomas, our father, and me. And when I played football, Thomas followed.

But the best way I can describe my brother is simple:

He was the better version of me.

Thomas passed away in 2022, but becoming The Border Kid isn't about turning his memory into a logo. It's about taking the things he represented and carrying them forward.

His daughter was unborn when Thomas passed away. She is part of the family and legacy he left behind.

Thomas was The Border Kid before $TBK ever existed.

Thomas Francisco Pena sitting on his motorcycle, the man behind The Border Kid.
Thomas Francisco Pena on his motorcycle with “The Border Kid” in bold red lettering, honoring the man and story behind the project.
Thomas Francisco Pena on his motorcycle with “The Border Kid” in bold red lettering, honoring the man and story behind the project.

MORE THAN A NAME

The Border Kid was Thomas long before it became $TBK.

It was part of how he represented himself and where he came from. Today, that name carries a different purpose.

What started with Thomas now represents something bigger — keeping his memory alive, carrying forward the things that mattered to him, and building something lasting for the family he left behind.

The name was his.
The legacy is ours to carry forward.