Avalon integrated with Bybit to offer Bitcoin yield

Singapore-based payment solution provider Alchemy Pay has launched its fiat-crypto on-ramp payment services on the popular web portal Bitcoin.com.Photo by Kanchanara on UnsplashNew local payment methodsAccording to a recent press release, the integration offers a direct-to-customer plugin, providing access to a diverse range of cryptocurrencies. The move aims to enhance Bitcoin.com's reach, particularly in Asian and Latin American markets, by incorporating new local payment methods. Bitcoin.com emphasized the significance of Alchemy Pay's integration, suggesting that it represented a streamlined transition between fiat and crypto with an expanded array of local payment options. This development aligns with Bitcoin.com's goal of meeting the needs of its user base in Asia and Latin America. Alchemy Pay's payment gateway facilitates transactions using major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Diners Club across 173 countries. Additionally, the platform supports domestic transfers and mobile wallet payments in developing markets. Alchemy Pay attempts to make the know-your-customer (KYC) process frictionless, coupling that service offering with low fees and competitive conversion rates. The firm’s overriding mission is to make cryptocurrency transactions as convenient as typical online payments. Focusing on industry partnershipsAlchemy Pay has been pursuing industry collaborations at an ever increasing rate over the course of the past year. The network boasts over 300 fiat payment channels, enabling checkouts beyond card payments to include various local mobile wallet options. Last month, it clinched a deal with global payment processor, Worldpay. That collaboration facilitates Alchemy Pay service users in leveraging Worldpay’s extensive Visa and Mastercard payment rails. Back in July, it struck a similar deal with global payments processor, Checkout.com. The company has also been active in the United States. Within that market, it has secured money transmitter licenses in the states of Iowa and Arkansas. It’s understood that the firm has more such licensing applications in the works in other U.S. states. At the end of November, Alchemy partnered with self custody and multi-coin wallet project Trust Wallet, enabling the wallet providers 70 million users in engaging in crypto transactions involving fiat payments. VERSE tokenBitcoin.com's native Token VERSE was launched in December 2022, acting as the platform’s rewards and utility token. The VERSE token has been enabled as a supported cryptocurrency as part of the Alchemy Pay platform integration. The utility token serves as a method of payment in its own right within the Bitcoin.com ecosystem and beyond, unlocking rewards along different tiers, and providing access to exclusive platform services. Users worldwide can leverage the VERSE DEX, Bitcoin.com's decentralized exchange, to swap cryptocurrencies without reliance on third-party custodians. Bitcoin.com’s goal is to simplify the process of buying, spending, trading, investing, earning and staying informed about cryptocurrency and the future of finance. Millions of users utilize Bitcoin.com's multi-chain digital wallet app for various crypto-related activities.  Meanwhile, Alchemy Pay supports transactions in 173 countries. The ramp, a one-stop solution for buying and selling crypto and fiat, can be seamlessly integrated by platforms and dApps as needed. 

Komainu and Crypto Garage partner to bring about institutional crypto adoptionKomainu, the crypto custodian and portfolio company of Japanese financial services conglomerate Nomura, has partnered with Crypto Garage to work towards enabling institutional crypto adoption in Japan.The digital asset custodian made the announcement of the partnership in a press release published to its website on Wednesday. The collaboration builds upon the investment by Crypto Garage's parent company, Digital Garage, in Komainu, aimed at fortifying Komainu’s market presence in Japan. The investment also unites Digital Garage with other prominent Japanese stakeholders in Komainu, including Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of Nomura, alongside the Nomura Research Institute.Photo by Agathe on UnsplashCapitalizing on growing institutional interestCrypto Garage, a company that provides custody, over-the-counter (OTC) trading and settlement services in both the Japanese and international markets, has seen a growing interest from Japanese institutions in digital assets. This has spurred Komainu and Crypto Garage to develop advanced digital asset custody solutions tailored specifically to meet institutional demands, with a strong focus on security and compliance.The partnership harnesses the diverse expertise of both entities, laying the foundation for what both firms hope will be a robust and dependable digital asset management platform throughout the lifecycle of these assets. Speaking to that notion, Crypto Garage CEO Masahito Okuma suggested that the firms share a common vision, adding:“By combining forces, we will leverage our collective expertise to deliver solutions that satisfy the unique needs of Japanese institutions.”Nicolas Bertrand, CEO of Komainu, expressed his optimism regarding the collaboration and the Japanese market, stating:“Japan is a key jurisdiction for digital assets and continues to be an important part of our plans to be the most coveted institutional-grade custodian globally.”This partnership represents a significant leap forward in advancing the institutional crypto landscape in Japan. With the support of established financial entities such as Nomura Holdings Inc. and Digital Garage Inc., this venture is poised to instill confidence among Japanese institutions by demonstrating a strong commitment from the traditional financial sector.This collaboration not only demonstrates the evolving dynamics of institutional crypto services in Japan but also underscores the broader acceptance and integration of digital asset management solutions within traditional financial frameworks. It signifies a matured understanding and approach to digital asset custody and management.Komainu, established as a joint venture between Nomura, CoinShares and Ledger, operates in full compliance with regulatory standards, offering a fusion of traditional financial services with state-of-the-art security measures for institutional custody in the digital age. Earlier this year, the firm entered into a partnership with crypto exchange platform OKX, providing the company with digital asset custody services.In August, Komainu secured a trading license from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai. Meanwhile, Crypto Garage extends its services to crypto asset businesses, both within Japan and internationally, covering custody, over-the-counter (OTC) trading and settlement services for digital assets.

At the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC-13) in Abu Dhabi, a consortium of major global institutions including distributed ledger project IOTA came together to ink a landmark pact aimed at enhancing digital trade, including the tokenization of real-world assets. The agreement, termed the Teaming Agreement, signifies a collective effort to propel digital trade forward, emphasizing the creation of an open, non-profit and inclusive digital infrastructure for trade data sharing. The initiative involves IOTA’s recently-formed Abu Dhabi-based IOTA Ecosystem DLT Foundation.Photo by Belinda Fewings on UnsplashCapital pledgeThe Foundation has pledged an investment of $10 million towards early-stage startups focusing on digital trade and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). These investments, to be unveiled publicly over the next few weeks, will support TradeTech or trade finance technology ventures and provide assistance to startups utilizing IOTA through an accelerator program. The signatories to the Teaming Agreement include esteemed organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Institute of Export and International Trade, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), the IOTA Foundation, TradeMark Africa and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF). This collaboration brings together a diverse range of expertise and resources, blending tech and trade proficiency to streamline supply chains and customs procedures. More efficient cross-border tradeThe primary objective of the agreement is to foster collaboration and information sharing across global supply chains, with the aim of reducing barriers and enhancing inclusivity in international trade. By leveraging digital infrastructures, the coalition aims to minimize the time and cost associated with cross-border trade, thus promoting greater participation in global commerce. The timing of this agreement is particularly pertinent, given the multitude of challenges facing global supply chains. Threats such as attacks on shipping routes and the potential rise of protectionist policies underscore the necessity for enhanced information sharing and cooperation across trade networks. Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP)At the core of this initiative lies the Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP), a public global trade infrastructure developed by TradeMark Africa in collaboration with the IOTA Foundation. Leveraging open-source technology, TLIP facilitates seamless information exchange in international trade, promoting transparency and inclusivity while empowering participants to retain control over their data. The implementation of TLIP is expected to address challenges such as document loss, information discrepancies and fraud, thereby fostering a more efficient and secure global trade ecosystem. Commenting on the development, IOTA Co-Founder Dominic Schiener stated:"By investing in the future of TradeTech, we are not just facilitating smoother trade transactions; we are laying the groundwork for a more interconnected and efficient global trade ecosystem. Our collaboration with leading organizations through the TLIP is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in this field." In a separate positive development for the IOTA project on Feb. 29, Jelle Millenaar, the co-founder of Impierce Technologies and a former IOTA software engineer, outlined that his company intends to develop a digital identity wallet on top of the IOTA Identity framework. The intention is to build a wallet that is compliant with digital identity regulation within the European Union.