Blockchain-powered donation platform collaborates with NPO Yana to hold charitable bazaar

Ripple to lead National Bank of Georgia’s CBDC pilot projectThe National Bank of Georgia (NBG) has selected enterprise blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions firm Ripple as the official technology partner for its ambitious Digital Lari (GEL) pilot project. The initiative aims to explore Ripple’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) technology, assessing its practical applications and potential benefits for a wide range of stakeholders, including the public sector, businesses and retail users.Photo by Max Kukurudziak on UnsplashCiting Ripple’s CBDC tech capabilitiesRipple divulged details of the collaboration via a press release published to its website on Thursday. The decision to entrust Ripple with this pivotal role came after a competitive selection process. The Georgian central bank cited a number of reasons for choosing to partner with Ripple, including Ripple’s deep understanding of the project’s objectives and a commitment to its success.The central bank thought that it had a clear project development roadmap and that it could facilitate a gradual deployment approach to various use cases. Additionally, the NBG acknowledged Ripple’s extensive experience in implementing real-life pilot projects, encompassing primary CBDC digital infrastructure, smart contracts and tokenization.Ripple’s CBDC solution, the Ripple CBDC Platform, emerged as the frontrunner for its capacity to provide a comprehensive end-to-end solution. The company launched the platform in May of this year. This platform empowers central banks, financial institutions and governments to seamlessly create, manage, transact and redeem CBDCs. Notably, it leverages the XRP Ledger (XRPL), known for its energy efficiency and open-source nature.Natia Turnava, Acting Governor and Member of the Board of the National Bank of Georgia, expressed satisfaction with the choice of Ripple as their official technology partner, emphasizing Ripple’s technical excellence and the expertise of its team.She also expressed gratitude to other companies that participated in the selection process. Ripple’s James Wallis, VP of Central Bank Engagements, highlighted the NBG’s pioneering role in adopting blockchain technology to usher in the digital era for the Georgian economy.He noted that this pilot project, empowered by the Ripple CBDC Platform, would set the stage for transformative advancements in blockchain technology’s utilization within the public sector, enhancing efficiency and transparency in transactions. Back in May, Wallis remarked on the launch of its CBDC platform that he believed “this platform will help solve problems for many central banks and governments who are devising plans and developing a technology strategy for CBDC Implementations.” He added:“The innovative capabilities of the platform will help enable instant settlement of both domestic and cross-border payments, reduce risk, and improve the user experience of quickly sending and receiving digital currency on either side of a transaction.”Transitioning from selection to pilot phaseWith the selection phase now concluded, the NBG is preparing to transition to the pilot stage, where they will test the Ripple CBDC Platform in a live environment. This real-world testing will enable the NBG to assess the practicality of select use cases, taking Georgia one step closer to realizing the full potential of CBDCs in their economic landscape.Ripple’s impact is not limited to Georgia. It has been actively engaging with governments and central banks worldwide. Ripple has announced five pilot programs in collaboration with countries like Bhutan, Palau, Montenegro, Colombia and Hong Kong. Furthermore, discussions are underway with over 20 other nations across the globe.

Remixpoint, Inc., an energy management solutions provider that trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO:3825), has announced the raising of $215 million to finance its Bitcoin treasury while the company’s CEO has become the first public company executive in Japan to receive his entire salary in Bitcoin.Photo by Michael Förtsch on Unsplash3,000 BTC targetIn a statement published to X on July 9, the company outlined that it had raised ¥31.5 billion ($215 million). The proceeds will be entirely allocated to Bitcoin acquisition. The company is targeting the accumulation of 3,000 BTC.  As of June 16, the company held 1,051 BTC, valued at around $114 million. At today’s pricing, the funds raised would allow Remixpoint to buy a further 1,977 BTC. However, the firm warned that actual acquisition volume may vary depending upon Bitcoin pricing over a certain period of time, combined with the firm’s share price. Providing its justification for the funds raised, Remixpoint said that the decision reflected its “conviction in Bitcoin’s future,” a view that the company has formed following extensive internal discussion. Remixpoint initiated this treasury strategy in September 2024, compelled to do so due to concerns about the Japanese yen, with a desire to hedge against its depreciation. In addition to Bitcoin, the company has also bought altcoins such as Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL) and Dogecoin (DOGE). Japanese firms buying BitcoinRemixpoint is one of a growing number of Japanese firms to establish crypto-based treasuries. Japanese fashion retailer ANAP Holdings held 200 BTC as of July 8, with plans to acquire over 1,000 BTC by August. Publicly listed marketing business Agile Media Network stated in April that the company would make an initial purchase of ¥10 million worth of Bitcoin on a trial basis in an effort to determine if it's worthwhile to invest in the asset on a broader basis. Earlier this year, Japanese gaming firm Gumi announced plans to build up a Bitcoin treasury worth in the region of ¥1 billion. In recent months, SBC Medical Group, nickel processing firm S Science and textile manufacturer Kitabo have either added Bitcoin to their balance sheets or announced plans to do so. Japan’s standout Bitcoin treasury company is Metaplanet, a former hotel operator. Earlier this week, it emerged that the company aspires to build up a 210,000 BTC treasury. Furthermore, it plans to use its Bitcoin holding to buy cash-producing businesses, with a digital bank being one of its potential acquisition targets. On July 8, Remixpoint announced that it had taken the decision to pay the entire salary of its recently-appointed CEO, Takashi Tashiro, in Bitcoin. Tashiro will become the first Japanese CEO of a publicly-listed company to receive his salary in Bitcoin. Remixpoint said that it had taken this decision as part of a shareholder-perspective management outlook. In a tongue-in-cheek comment on X, market analyst Caleb Franzen said that "Now that the Remixpoint CEO is taking their salary in Bitcoin, I think Satya Nadella [CEO of Microsoft] will do the same any day now!" The emergence of crypto treasury firms has faced criticism. However, Elliot Chun, a partner at Architect Partners, asserted back in March that by 2030, a quarter of S&P 500 firms will have invested in Bitcoin.

CeDeFi protocol NEOPIN has agreed to work with GREEVER, the developer of an eco-friendly Drive-to-Earn (D2E) app that rewards users for their efforts towards sustainable driving, marking an accelerated move towards forging a greener economy, according to an official Medium post on Wednesday (KST).Photo by why kei on UnsplashFostering green innovation“NEOPIN is actively collaborating with the government of Abu Dhabi to establish a DeFi regulatory framework. It is also recognized as a pioneer in Permissioned DeFi. On the other hand, GREEVER is distinguished by its strong commitment to public interest initiatives like promoting eco-friendly and safe driving,” said Ethan Kim, CEO of NEOPIN. “Through this partnership, our goal is to demonstrate our achievements in the blockchain space, emphasizing key themes such as compliance, eco-friendliness, and sustainability.” NEOPIN and GREEVER plan to integrate their platforms to expand their respective user bases. Specifically, the NEOPIN digital wallet will be integrated into the GREEVER app. They also intend to introduce NEOPIN’s DeFi products by linking them with GVL, GREEVER’s governance token. Through their collaboration, both companies aim to popularize blockchain on a global scale, especially by leveraging Busan’s technological expertise in the technology.  Driving towards sustainabilityGREEVER resides at the Blockchain Innovation Technology Center at the Busan International Finance Center. The GREEVER D2E platform was launched last September as South Korea’s first blockchain service for eco-friendly driving. It rewards drivers based on their safe and eco-friendly driving habits while promoting the adoption of blockchain technology in different areas of daily life. The team responsible for developing and operating the app is led by CEO Yun In-kyu, a Director of the Busan IT Partners Association and a General Manager who spearheaded various blockchain education initiatives tailored for Busan in 2021. “GREEVER is actively engaged in socially responsible projects with government organizations. Our alliance with NEOPIN is a pivotal move towards sustainability that aligns perfectly with GREEVER’s mission of enhancing accessibility and public interest,” said Yun In Kyu, CEO of GREEVER.