Bitpowr looks to Asia for further growth following $200M milestone

Hong Kong and Kazakhstan Pilot SWIFT’s CBDC SolutionCentral bank digital currency (CBDC) development globally is unrelenting, with the latest iteration of that involving global financial messaging network SWIFT.The global member-owned cooperative recently disclosed that three central banks are currently participating in beta-testing of this revolutionary solution, including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the National Bank of Kazakhstan.Photo by NASA on UnsplashBuilding upon initial successThe company provided details on the initiative via a press release published to its website on Wednesday. Simultaneously, an extended consortium of over 30 financial institutions is embarking on sandbox experiments to explore a multitude of potential use cases.The impetus behind SWIFT’s commitment to CBDC interoperability grew stronger after a successful round of sandbox testing. Participants in the initial phase quickly recognized the potential and intrinsic value of SWIFT’s solution.Building on this success, the beta version of SWIFT’s CBDC connector solution is now being integrated into the infrastructure of three central banks and monetary authorities.Second phase testingIn tandem with the beta testing, SWIFT has inaugurated a second phase of sandbox experiments, drawing in a consortium of commercial banks, central banks, and financial market infrastructure providers. This phase is dedicated to exploring an array of use cases, ranging from trigger-based payments for digital trade platforms to foreign exchange models, delivery vs. payment mechanisms, and liquidity-saving techniques.Eighteen central and commercial banks had taken part in the first phase of those sandbox experiments. Equally, the second phase has attracted a long list of entities, including the Reserve Bank of Australia, Deutsche Bundesbank, HKMA, Bank of Thailand, CLS, and others. With thirty leading global financial institutions participating in this latest testing round, that makes for a 66% increase in participation by comparison with the first phase. Their collective input and collaboration will contribute towards shaping the future landscape where CBDCs are concerned.Tom Zschach, Chief Innovation Officer at SWIFT, commented on the use of the technology in bridging from existing systems, stating:“The financial community has already recognized the strong potential of our CBDC innovations for preventing digital islands while securely bridging the payment systems of today and the future.”Global hotbed of innovationThe American think tank, the Atlantic Council, has been tracking CDBC projects on a global basis. Its endeavors in that respect demonstrate the expansive efforts that are being made to develop this technology.19 of the G20 countries are in advanced stages of CBDC development, with nine already in pilot phases. While this proliferation signifies the growing importance of CBDCs on the global stage, it also raises concerns about potential fragmentation as countries predominantly focus on domestic usage.SWIFT has taken a proactive stance in addressing the potential challenges of a fragmented CBDC landscape. The company embarked on its CBDC journey over 18 months ago, with the initial sandbox phase simulating nearly 5,000 transactions between different blockchain networks and existing fiat-based payment systems.

Asiastar Entertainment and Codus to Develop Casual P2E Game with NFT RewardsAsiastar Entertainment, a Korean company specializing in animation, food products, and toys, revealed plans last Friday to work with its business partner, software and blockchain development firm Codus, to develop a casual play-to-earn (P2E) game that rewards players with NFTs.Photo by Choong Deng Xiang on UnsplashTokenized in-game assets and coin rewardsSpecifically, multiple in-game characters and backgrounds will be tokenized as NFTs for trading. As players progress through the game, they can also earn rewards in the form of TBC — the official tradeable coin issued by TurboChain Foundation, a subsidiary of Asiastar Entertainment. These rewards can be exchanged for gift vouchers and various merchandise, the company said.The two companies plan to leverage Asiastar Entertainment’s Great Q-Bot animation model — a model originally aimed at providing animated educational content for children — to create the P2E game.Watch-to-earn, short-form videosMeanwhile, TurboChain Foundation is gearing up to launch its Turbo Playhouse platform in the latter half of the year. This watch-to-earn, short-form video platform links offline products and online videos with QR codes to allow users to receive TBCs.Asiastar Entertainment also added that it is currently focusing on expanding its business through blockchain-related ventures by taking advantage of its core competencies in this emerging field.

Web3 Cybersecurity Firm Zyber 365 Raises $100M in FundingZyber 365, a pioneering Web3 startup that combines AI, Web3, and cybersecurity, has recently secured $100 million in funding from the UK-based SRAM & MRAM Group.Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash$1.2 billion valuationThe substantial investment places Zyber 365’s valuation at an impressive $1.2 billion, while marking a significant milestone for the company, underscoring its promising trajectory.Although now headquartered in London, the company’s origins stem from India with a set of Indian founders, while the firm continues to maintain its strategic operational base in India.The company was founded earlier this year by Pearl Kapur and ethical hacker Sunny Vaghela. The startup stands out for its groundbreaking approach to cybersecurity, offering a decentralized and cyber-secured operating system that upholds the core tenets of environmental sustainability.Indian nucleus of operationsNotably, Zyber 365 has earmarked India as the nucleus of its operations, aiming to harness the nation’s tech talent and vibrant ecosystem to fuel its growth. The recent injection of capital will likely play a pivotal role in amplifying Zyber 365’s expansion initiatives, bolstering its technological capabilities, and cementing its global market presence.The SRAM & MRAM Group, no stranger to the tech investment landscape, has previously demonstrated its confidence in innovative startups. In a similar vein, the group invested $100 million in another India-centric blockchain startup, 5ire, in July of the previous year, valuing it at an impressive $1.5 billion.Broad Web3-based product rangeZyber 365’s portfolio spans a wide spectrum of Web3 products, including Layer-0, Layer-1, and Layer-2 blockchains, decentralized identities, data analytics, a software development kit, a web browser, and even non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces and initial coin offering (ICO) capabilities.These offerings can be seamlessly integrated as part of a comprehensive Web3 ecosystem or employed as standalone applications tailored to specific user requirements.Sunny Vaghela, the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Zyber 365, expressed his enthusiasm about the infusion of capital. He emphasized that this financial boost positions the company to expedite the development of its Web3 and AI products, thereby enhancing its presence in the dynamic tech landscape.Vaghela underscored how Zyber 365’s inventive approach to cybersecurity and its commitment to pioneering technologies set it on a remarkable path toward industry leadership.Mahendra Joshi, Director of the SRAM & MRAM Group, echoed Vaghela’s sentiments, lauding Zyber 365’s exceptional team and disruptive technology. Joshi’s confidence in the investment’s potential to drive outstanding growth and success in the coming years reflects the industry’s anticipation of the startup’s continued evolution.In an era where cybersecurity and innovation are paramount, Zyber 365’s substantial funding from the SRAM & MRAM Group heralds a new phase of growth and advancement. Venture capital investment in the digital assets space has contracted significantly since the last bull market. However, as this deal demonstrates, there are signs of green shoots emerging.With its cutting-edge technology and strategic focus on Web3 and AI, the startup has an opportunity to reshape the landscape of cybersecurity while solidifying its status as an industry trailblazer.