Blockchain Press Releases
Plusgrade Bolsters Hospitality Business Development with Seasoned Industry Leaders, Paul Rantilla and Dan Hiza
- Plusgrade continues to scale across travel industry verticals and takes another major step forward in its mission to be the global ancillary revenue powerhouse
- Rantilla and Hiza will lead hospitality ancillaries business development, expanding Plusgrade’s portfolio of innovative solutions that drive higher revenue
- Their new roles took effect as of June 1, 2023
MONTREAL, June 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Plusgrade, the global leader powering ancillary revenue solutions for the travel industry, is proud to announce the appointment of Paul Rantilla and Dan Hiza to lead its growing hospitality ancillaries business development team. The appointment of the hospitality technology veterans underscores Plusgrade’s commitment to creating exceptional experiences and driving revenue for air, hospitality, cruise, rail, and financial services companies worldwide. It also allows Plusgrade to further enhance and invest in its hospitality solutions to redefine the guest experience, unlock new revenue streams for partners, and foster innovation within the thriving hospitality industry.
Paul Rantilla assumed the role of Senior Vice President, CRO – Hospitality Ancillaries, and Dan Hiza stepped into the position of Vice President, Business Development – Hospitality Ancillaries as of June 1, 2023. Their combined expertise and strategic vision will play a critical role in shaping the future of Plusgrade as the global ancillary revenue leader.
“Paul Rantilla and Dan Hiza’s impressive backgrounds, deep hospitality industry knowledge, and drive for tech innovation will undoubtedly accelerate our growth trajectory as we continue to expand our transformative portfolio of products and solutions within the global hospitality industry,” said Plusgrade CEO, Ken Harris.
“I am both honoured and excited to welcome Paul and Dan to the Hospitality Ancillaries Business Development team,” said Tzafrir Blonder, Plusgrade’s Vice President of Hospitality Ancillaries. “Their leadership and strategic insights will be instrumental in driving our growth and solidifying our position as the global leader in ancillary revenue solutions within the hospitality industry.”
Rantilla is an accomplished executive bringing over 30 years of experience in hospitality management, market penetration, sales strategies and marketing leadership. He previously served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Birchstreet Systems where he led the sales and marketing teams and oversaw all hospitality contacts and sales with the world’s leading brands. Prior to that, Rantilla was the Executive Vice President of Global Sales at Amadeus Hospitality where he optimized sales and led all revenue and bookings forecasting globally. Rantilla will lead Plusgrade’s hospitality go-to-market strategy and be responsible for building a world-class sales team focused on driving one-of-a-kind outcomes for hospitality partners.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Plusgrade team. The opportunity to leverage the company’s innovation in air, cruise, and rail, coupled with the Points loyalty platform, will bring a unique and unprecedented offering to hospitality. There couldn’t be a better time to partner with the leaders in hospitality to bring tremendous value to their guests, brands and owners,” said Paul Rantilla.
Hiza holds over 30 years of operations, sales, and business development experience and has a strong background in delivering enterprise-level hospitality software globally. He most recently served as the Managing Director for EMEAI & Asia at Birchstreet Systems where he was responsible for leading SaaS revenue growth and bringing new solutions to hospitality businesses. Prior to that he held the position of Managing Director & VP Business Development EMEA at Amadeus London where he grew commercial relationships with strategic accounts across the hospitality industry. Hiza will focus on growing strategic relationships across EMEA and Asia to further improve guest engagement and satisfaction and drive ancillary revenue for partners.
“Joining Plusgrade to help revolutionize the traveler journey, set higher benchmarks for guest engagement and satisfaction, and drive new ancillary revenue for hospitality partners in EMEA & Asia is a role I’m thrilled to step into. Together with Plusgrade and its incredible portfolio of partners, we have a real opportunity to help shape the future of travel and the time to do it is now,” said Dan Hiza.
Plusgrade continues its expansive growth in the hospitality industry after acquiring UpStay earlier this year, which added hotel upgrades for guests and enabled hoteliers to drive higher ancillary revenue through multiple value-added revenue streams. With the addition of these senior leaders to its hospitality business roster, Plusgrade is poised to reinforce its position as the powerhouse for the global travel industry which includes its now 200+ airline, hospitality, cruise, rail and financial services partners around the world.
About Plusgrade
Plusgrade powers the global travel industry with its portfolio of leading ancillary revenue solutions. Over 200 airline, hospitality, cruise, passenger rail, and financial services companies trust Plusgrade to create new, meaningful revenue streams through incredible customer experiences. As an ancillary revenue powerhouse, Plusgrade has generated billions of dollars in new revenue opportunities across its platform for its partners, while creating enhanced travel experiences for millions of their passengers and guests. Plusgrade was founded in 2009 with headquarters in Montreal and has offices around the world.
MEDIA CONTACT: Carrie Mumford, Director, Brand & Communications, Plusgrade, [email protected]
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/plusgrade-bolsters-hospitality-business-development-with-seasoned-industry-leaders-paul-rantilla-and-dan-hiza-301863803.html
Blockchain Press Releases
Market Eyes “Crypto President” Inauguration as BTC Tumbles at $100K: Bybit and Block Scholes Analysis
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has released the latest crypto derivatives report, published weekly with Blocks Scholes. Noting BTC’s retreat from the $100k mark a week into the new year, the analysis showed on-risk assets including crypto bore the brunt of broader macro factors. Past week’s data indicates heightened uncertainty in market dynamics ahead of Trump’s anticipated Jan. 21 inauguration, highlighting shifting investor sentiment during this significant political transition.
Key Insights:
Perpetuals Took a Winter Break: The perpetual swap market experienced a notable decline in liquidity over the holidays, with trading volumes winding down throughout Dec. 2024, leading to decreased realized volatility across the market. Notably, open interest maintained stability compared to levels preceding the great expiration of options contracts in Dec. 2024, indicating conservative positioning and limited hedging activity in perpetual swap markets.
Wide Disparity Between 30-Day Implied Volatility and 7-Day Realized Volatility: ETH’s options markets signalled an unmistakable preference for call options. In contrast, BTC’s open interest is rebalancing after the expiration in Dec. 2024. Both ETH and BTC have experienced notable changes in their term structures heading into the new year. The sharp divergence between implied and realized volatility is at its largest since the U.S. elections, suggesting that options traders are paying a premium to price in a higher level of risk or volatility despite the calm at the surface.
ETH Calls Gaining Traction
There has been a reshuffling in ETH open interest. While put options still hold sway in terms of total volume, call contracts have seen an uptick after Dec. However, the optimism comes with a caveat—the decline in realized volatility in the year so far has given options traders pause. The volatility term structure has steepened further, with short-term volatility (measured at a 30-day tenor) still sitting more than 15 points above its realized counterpart. This gap is the widest since the pre-election period of 2024, when geopolitical uncertainty fueled volatility premiums. Today, however, the premium seems driven more by general speculation than by any specific event. Even as the market settles, investors remain cautious, signaling looming uncertainty.
Access the Full Report here.
#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk /#BybitResearch
About Bybit
Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
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Blockchain Press Releases
HTX 2025 Outlook: Five Sectors to Look Forward to, and How Trump’s Policy Will Affect Crypto Industry
SINGAPORE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The year 2024 marks a significant chapter in the history of the crypto industry, where we witnessed continuous breakthroughs in blockchain technology, surges in Bitcoin price, and a gradually more open regulatory environment, with cryptocurrencies gaining increasing recognition from the mainstream. As 2025 unfolds, HTX, the world’s leading digital asset exchange, has released its latest report, HTX 2024 Global Web3 Blockchain Ecosystem Review and 2025 Outlook, which provides forward-looking insights into the development prospects of the crypto industry.
Key Sectors for 2025
In the report, HTX highlighted five key sectors that showed encouraging progress last year, and will continue to closely monitor these areas in 2025.
Bitcoin Ecosystem
In 2024, Bitcoin’s market dominance kept increasing, solidifying its position as the core asset, with spot ETFs acting as liquidity channels, and U.S. listed companies such as MicroStrategy (MSTR) serving as the vehicles to absorb unlimited dollar liquidity.
As a result, it is increasingly essential to further develop Bitcoin’s ecosystem and enhance capital utilization efficiency. With strong support from macro markets and infrastructure support, a further surge in Bitcoin demand over the next two years is well-anticipated.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure remained a cornerstone in 2024’s crypto investments and funding. The synergy between capital and technology has driven the rapid development of Layer 1, Layer 2, and middleware projects, among others.
Layer 1 solutions, in particular, now represent the focal point of technical development and exploration within the crypto space, and it is expected to remain a priority for development resources and capital investment in the future.
Meme Coins
The Meme coin sector emerged as a hotspot in 2024, fostering community consensus while integrating with fields like DeFi and GameFi to create new use cases. As the crypto market environment grows increasingly favorable, more retail investors are expected to enter the market, positioning Meme projects as vital channels for capital inflows.
AI
In 2024, the intersection of Crypto and AI sector has been driving the exploration of several segmented fields, the hottest one of which is AI agents. In the future, AI agents will gradually become personal butlers and assistants for users, serving them with comprehensive capabilities. Over time, they may develop unique cultures and religions.
This deep integration of AI and encryption technology is a groundbreaking evolution that is unattainable within Web2 and cannot be achieved by Web3 relying solely on encryption technology.
TON Ecosystem
Attributable to Telegram’s hundreds of millions of users and robust technical support, the TON ecosystem achieved significant milestones in various fields, pioneering the monetization of Web2 social applications through crypto. Moving into 2025, it needs to explore and find new business models to improve user retention and identify its next growth curve.
Donald Trump Effect: Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Worth Anticipating
The report also discusses the potential impact of crypto-friendly policies that could arise after Donald Trump takes office. Two important bills, the FIT21 Act and the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, are likely to pass more quickly thanks to him.
The FIT21 Act aims to create a clear legal framework for token issuance and trading by classifying tokens as digital assets or digital commodities, transferring the regulatory responsibilities of many blockchain projects from the SEC to the CFTC, and introducing a safe harbor mechanism. This would help standardize and promote the healthy growth of the entire industry.
The Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, aligning with Trump’s campaign promises, if passed, would mark Bitcoin’s transition from a niche asset to a nationally recognized reserve asset, greatly enhancing its legitimacy and recognition. It may also prompt other countries to adopt similar measures to further advance Bitcoin’s global recognition and application.
The Act was submitted to Congress for deliberation on August 4, 2024, and referred to the Senate Banking Committee for review. Trump is well-positioned to push this bill through. Meanwhile, several U.S. states have already proposed their own Bitcoin Strategic Reserve bills. By 2025, Bitcoin as a strategic reserve may become a reality.
Additionally, under Trump’s presidency, the SAB121 Act is likely to be repealed, allowing traditional financial institutions to hold cryptocurrencies on their balance sheets, further accelerating the institutionalization of crypto assets and contributing to the overall maturity of the crypto market. The SEC’s application criteria of the Howey Test may also be relaxed, increasing the likelihood of more spot crypto ETFs being approved and more public listings of crypto companies.
Meanwhile, the report also provides a comprehensive summary of 2024, looking back on the key events that had a major impact on the crypto industry while summing up what HTX had achieved over the last year.
To learn more, please visit: https://square.htx.com/htx-2024-global-web3-blockchain-ecosystem-review-and-2025-outlook/
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, we harbor global capabilities that enable us to provide users with safe and reliable services.
Our growth strategy – “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance”, underpins our commitment to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
Contact Details
Ruder Finn Asia
[email protected]
Company Website
https://www.htx.com
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Blockchain Press Releases
Vietnam’s Youth Rally Behind Blockchain: KuCoin Reveals Groundbreaking Insights at VTIS 2024
HANOI, Vietnam, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is excited to share the findings from its second edition of the KuCoin Campus Survey, conducted during the Vietnam Technology & Investment Summit (VTIS) 2024. With 926 participants surveyed from December 3rd to December 4th, 2024, the results underscore the vibrant interest in blockchain technologies among Vietnam’s youth, reinforcing KuCoin’s commitment to nurturing this vital market.
The survey, a key initiative under KuCoin Campus, highlights a strong, positive sentiment towards cryptocurrencies, with 92% of participants optimistic about the future of digital assets. Remarkably, 82% of respondents are considering blockchain-related careers, signaling a burgeoning talent pool eager for development and opportunities within the industry.
Vietnam’s strategic importance to both KuCoin and the broader crypto community is evident as 68% of participants expressed a “very high interest” in blockchain, making it a critical hub for crypto innovations and community engagement. Additionally, 73% of respondents currently hold cryptocurrencies, demonstrating a mature market ready for further expansion and adoption.
The survey also uncovered a significant inclination towards diverse blockchain roles, with data analysis (24%), marketing (22%), and business development (21%) being the most coveted. These insights are invaluable as they highlight the areas of highest potential and interest among the future workforce.
“Vietnam has been and will continue to be a key market for us,” said Alicia Kao, the Managing Director of KuCoin. “As the People’s Exchange, we are committed to empowering and equipping this new generation with the tools they need to succeed in the evolving digital landscape.”
View the full report here (EN version, VN Version), or visit KuCoin’s official website for further information.
About KuCoin
Founded in 2017, KuCoin is one of the pioneering and most globally recognized technology platforms supporting digital economies, built on a robust foundation of cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and an exceptional user experience. With a connected user base exceeding 37 million worldwide, KuCoin offers comprehensive digital asset solutions across wallets, trading, wealth management, payments, research, ventures, and AI-powered bots. KuCoin has garnered accolades such as “Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges” by Forbes and has been recognized among the “Top 50 Global Unicorns” by Hurun in 2024. These recognitions reflect its commitment to user-centric principles and core values, which include integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vietnams-youth-rally-behind-blockchain-kucoin-reveals-groundbreaking-insights-at-vtis-2024-302347817.html
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